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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Ukraine in snap election warning | Ukraine in snap election warning |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to dissolve parliament and call elections after the collapse of the country's ruling coalition. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to dissolve parliament and call elections after the collapse of the country's ruling coalition. |
| Mr Yushchenko's supporters walked out in protest on Tuesday night following new laws to trim presidential powers. | Mr Yushchenko's supporters walked out in protest on Tuesday night following new laws to trim presidential powers. |
| The laws were introduced by the opposition and backed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc. | |
| Former allies, the prime minister and president are now at odds despite sharing pro-Western political goals. | |
| All but one of 12 ministers from Mr Yushchenko's party boycotted Wednesday's cabinet meeting. | All but one of 12 ministers from Mr Yushchenko's party boycotted Wednesday's cabinet meeting. |
| "A political and constitutional coup d'etat has started in the parliament," Mr Yushchenko said in a televised speech. | "A political and constitutional coup d'etat has started in the parliament," Mr Yushchenko said in a televised speech. |
| "I will use my right to dissolve parliament and decree early elections if a new coalition is not formed within 30 days," he said. | "I will use my right to dissolve parliament and decree early elections if a new coalition is not formed within 30 days," he said. |
| 'Work continues' | 'Work continues' |
| Under Ukrainian law, parliament has 30 days to form a new coalition after one is dissolved, and another month to put together a cabinet. Until then, the previous government continues its work. | Under Ukrainian law, parliament has 30 days to form a new coalition after one is dissolved, and another month to put together a cabinet. Until then, the previous government continues its work. |
| Analysts said that with the current coalition still legally in force, Mr Yushchenko had no formal authority to push for a new alliance. | Analysts said that with the current coalition still legally in force, Mr Yushchenko had no formal authority to push for a new alliance. |
| Profile: Viktor YushchenkoProfile: Yulia Tymoshenko Ukraine's tenuous double act | Profile: Viktor YushchenkoProfile: Yulia Tymoshenko Ukraine's tenuous double act |
| Ms Tymoshenko blamed her rival for the chaos, vowing that the Ukrainian cabinet would continue its work despite the break-up of the coalition. | Ms Tymoshenko blamed her rival for the chaos, vowing that the Ukrainian cabinet would continue its work despite the break-up of the coalition. |
| "Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko declares that there is no alternative to the democratic coalition," her party said on its website. | "Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko declares that there is no alternative to the democratic coalition," her party said on its website. |
| In a televised address, Ms Tymoshenko said: "I am sorry that the president behaves irresponsibly. The coalition was destroyed under his instruction." | |
| "I am convinced that the work of the democratic coalition will be renewed. You have 10 days... to return to the democratic coalition," she added. | |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Kiev, says the coalition has been weak since it was formed and has been teetering on the brink of collapse for some time. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Kiev, says the coalition has been weak since it was formed and has been teetering on the brink of collapse for some time. |
| This move is seen by many as the first shots in a presidential campaign in which Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko are both candidates, our correspondent says. | This move is seen by many as the first shots in a presidential campaign in which Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko are both candidates, our correspondent says. |
| Polls have shown that Ms Tymoshenko would win a presidential election, with Yushchenko coming last. In a parliamentary election, she would increase her seats, while Mr Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party would lose some. | Polls have shown that Ms Tymoshenko would win a presidential election, with Yushchenko coming last. In a parliamentary election, she would increase her seats, while Mr Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party would lose some. |
| If parliamentary elections are called, they would be the third in as many years since the 2004 "Orange Revolution", which swept Mr Yushchenko to power. | If parliamentary elections are called, they would be the third in as many years since the 2004 "Orange Revolution", which swept Mr Yushchenko to power. |
| Western integration | Western integration |
| He campaigned on a ticket of greater Western integration including joining Nato and the European Union. | He campaigned on a ticket of greater Western integration including joining Nato and the European Union. |
| The BBC's regional analyst Steven Eke says Mr Yushchenko's popularity is at rock bottom at the moment with opinion polls giving him single-digit levels of support. | |
| The crisis follows mounting tension between the president and prime minister with Mr Yushchenko accusing Ms Tymoshenko of treason for allegedly siding with Moscow over the conflict in Georgia. | The crisis follows mounting tension between the president and prime minister with Mr Yushchenko accusing Ms Tymoshenko of treason for allegedly siding with Moscow over the conflict in Georgia. |
| Mr Yushchenko has been a vociferous supporter of Georgia during the conflict but the prime minister's party on Tuesday blocked a parliamentary resolution condemning Moscow. | Mr Yushchenko has been a vociferous supporter of Georgia during the conflict but the prime minister's party on Tuesday blocked a parliamentary resolution condemning Moscow. |
| The flare-up comes a day before a planned visit to the country by US Vice-President Dick Cheney. | The flare-up comes a day before a planned visit to the country by US Vice-President Dick Cheney. |
| The trip is part of a tour of former Soviet states which the US sees as key allies. | The trip is part of a tour of former Soviet states which the US sees as key allies. |
| Are you in Ukraine? Are you concerned by developments? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Ukraine? Are you concerned by developments? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |