Ukraine's ex-PM faces abuse of office trial

Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is facing trial in a case that has raised concerns in the West over the government's commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

Tymoshenko, now a top opposition leader, has been charged with abuse of office in signing a deal with Moscow to buy Russian natural gas at prices investigators said were too high. A court in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, opened preliminary hearings in the case Friday. (AP)