Ukraine body identified as journalist

KIEV, Ukraine (CNN) -- A headless body found in a forest near Kiev has been identified as that of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze.

The journalist, whose body was found in November two months after he disappeared, had been critical of President Leonid Kuchma and several top businessmen from the president's entourage.

The announcement by the prosecutor general on Monday followed months of what groups opposed to Kuchma said were delays in the investigation into Gongadze's disappearance.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks calling for Kuchma to quit over allegations of involvement in Gongadze's disappearance.

DNA testing showed earlier that it was 99.6 percent likely that the body was that of Gongadze but until now the prosecutor general had refused to make the final determination.

A murder investigation could not be launched until the body was positively identified.

A former Kuchma bodyguard in the State Guard Department has unveiled audio recordings of what he said were conversations between the president and his top aides, in which Kuchma is said to urge action against Gongadze

The FBI offered to assist in the investigation and identification of the body on Friday -- an offer accepted by Ukraine.

The case caused a major political crisis for Kuchma. Weeks of street protests led by the Ukraine Without Kuchma movement have led to an opposition village of 52 tents being erected in central Kiev, but Kuchma refuses to stand aside.

The disappearance also prompted the European Union to call for a full inquiry into the incident, saying Ukrainian authorities had so far failed to investigate the case thoroughly.

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Ukraine
Parliament of Ukraine
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