KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree dismissing his old Cabinet, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Thursday.
The outgoing president, who will be replaced by newly elected Viktor Yushchenko, instructed the dismissed cabinet's members to continue performing their duties until a new Cabinet is installed.
The decree was signed following the resignation of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych Wednesday. Yanukovych was decisively defeated in the rerun of the second round of Ukraine's presidential election last month.
Kuchma also appointed First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mykola Azarov as acting prime minister, Interfax-Ukraine said. He is expected to serve in that position until Yushchenko is formally sworn in and appoints his own prime minister.
