Ukraine's parliament on Thursday dismissed by a narrow margin of 230 of a minimum 226 votes needed the head of the National Security Service (SBU), Valentyn Nalivaichenko.

Earlier in the day, the parliament approved President Viktor Yanukovych's ally Mykola Azarov as prime minister.

Nalivaichenko, who was former president Viktor Yushchenko's staunch ally, said earlier he would stand down after the inauguration of Viktor Yanukovych.

The move is widely seen as part of Yanukovych's efforts to oust Yushchenko's allies from positions of power, as the parliament appointed the new foreign and defense ministers just minutes after dismissing Nalivaichenko.

The new parliamentary coalition has 235 deputies and comprises the Party of Regions, now temporarily led by Azarov, the Communists, the bloc of parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, and several independent deputies.

KIEV, March 11 (RIA Novosti)