Ukraine's Yanukovych condemns interim government as violent usurpers

Deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych condemned Western powers on Friday for their support for what he described as the violent usurpers that seized power in his former Soviet nation over the weekend, RIA Novosti reports.

“Power in Ukraine was seized by nationalists, neo-Fascist youths that represent an absolute minority of the people,” Yanukovych is quoted saying by the news agency. “I was not overthrown. I was forced to leave Ukraine under immediate threat to my life and the lives of my loved ones.”

“I lay the responsibility for this on those now in power … and the representatives of the West, including the United States, who gave their support to the Maidan,” the deposed president said