UKRAINE: Yanukovich supporters march near parliament as President Viktor Yushchenko says reluctant to dissolve parliament

Hundreds of supporters of Vitkor Yanukovich, the loser in the country's "Orange Revolution" in 2004, rallied outside the parliament in Kiev on Thursday (July 27), demanding Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko recommend the Regions party leader to parliament for the post of prime minister, at the head of a coalition government. Ukraine has been in political turmoil for four months as rival parties have tried to clinch a coalition deal and form a government since an inconclusive parliamentary poll in March. The country of 47 million is virtually split in two with the centre and west backing the president's pro-European drive, while the east and south support the pro-Russian opposition. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party is locked in talks with the opposition Regions party on forming a new government. The Regions agreed a coalition with Socialists and Communists this month after three-month talks, after attempts to create a union between the parties that led the 2003 Orange Revolution that brought Yushchenko to power failed. This initial coalition plan had envisaged, "Orange Revolution" firebrand Yulia Tymoshenko as the head of a new government. Deputies from her party have boycotted parliament since the collapse of the coalition plan that involved Ukraine's Socialists, with party leader Oleksander Moroz, subsequently elected parliamentary speaker. Yushchenko said on Wednesday (July 26) dissolving parliament would only fuel divisions in society, and urged deputies to resolve their failure to find an acceptable coalition via talks. Yushchenko has the right to dissolve parliament because deputies failed to form a government within the 60-day deadline set out in the constitution. He said he would use this option only as a last resort. "I do not rule out this possibility but I want to say that it could bring further confrontation in society," Yushchenko told reporters. Yanukovich, who was defeated by Yushchenko in the elections that followed the revolution two years ago, is nominated by parliament to become prime minister. But Yushchenko, who wants to take Ukraine into NATO and the European Union, has so far been unwilling to accept his old rival, who backs closer ties with Russia. "I will not allow a prime minister to implement a divisive policy, a policy which will lead Ukrainian nation away from sovereignty," he said, adding that he would want a say in selection of candidates for the posts of defence, interior and foreign ministers. The president has until August 3 to decide on the prime minister. Yushchenko called on politicians to hold a round table on Thursday to iron out their differences. On Wednesday he also met regional governors, the interior and defence ministers and the head of the SBU secret service.

ITN Source | July 28, 2006

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