The Ukrainian energy minister, Serhiy Tulub, has announced his resignation following disagreements with senior government officials over how to overcome Ukraine's energy problems.

He said he found it impossible to work in what he called the aggressive atmosphere in the government towards his ministry.

Mr Tulub said the government had no intention of carrying out real reform and wanted merely to transfer control of the energy sector to a select group of businessmen.

Ukraine has suffered a perpetual energy crisis since independence in 1991 and owes Russia huge sums of money for gas and electricity. Correspondents say the government's difficulties are likely to increase in the face of a worsening financial crisis and the planned closure of the only working reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant later this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service