KIEV, Sept. 13 - Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko may have abused office by arranging to wipe out $1.5 billion debt that her now-defunct company owed the state, President Viktor Yushchenko told The Associated Press Tuesday.

The allegations were made in response to charges by Tymoshenko that Yushchenko's top aides, such as Petro Poroshenko, the national security chief, have been using powers for personal gain.