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Yushchenko names rival for Premier

Vladimir Radyuhin

Move marks a dramatic unravelling of the pro-Western "Orange Revolution"

MOSCOW: Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko agreed to support his political rival Victor Yanukovich for the post of Prime Minister in what marks a dramatic unravelling of the pro-Western "Orange Revolution" coup of 2004.

Mr. Yushchenko went on television to announce his decision early on Thursday, two hours after a 15-day deadline expired for the President to submit to Parliament the candidacy of Prime Minister nominated by a majority coalition in Parliament. Till the very last moment, speculation was high that the President may decide to disband Parliament to avoid having to work with an Opposition government. However, pollsters said new elections would only strengthen the anti-"Orange" forces in Parliament.

Mr. Yushchenko said he had decided to propose Mr.Yanukovich as Prime Minister in an effort to reunite the country split into pro-Russia East and pro-Europe West.

By accepting the nomination of Mr. Yanukovich, Mr. Yushchenko conceded defeat in his four-month manoeuvres to reconstitute a coalition of "Orange" parties which advocated leaving the Russian orbit and joining NATO and the European Union in the wake of an inconclusive parliamentary election earlier this year.

Mr. Yushchenko was also forced to climb down from his demand that Mr. Yanukovich and his allies support NATO membership for Ukraine. A national unity agreement signed by the President and the Opposition calls for holding a national referendum on the issue of joining NATO. Opinion polls show that a majority of Ukrainians say no to NATO.

Mr. Yanukovich, who supports rebuilding closer economic ties with Russia, staged a remarkable political comeback in March when his Party of Regions came ahead of rivals in the first parliamentary election since "Orange Revolution" street protests stripped him of victory in a presidential election following charges of vote rigging.

In an effort to lock out Mr. Yanukovich from government, Mr. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine formed a coalition with the Socialists and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, another firebrand leader of the revolution. The "Orange" coalition proved short-lived and broke up over the sharing of portfolios and the formulation of strategic goals even before it could form a Cabinet.

After the collapse of the "Orange" coalition, Mr. Yanukovich set up an "anti-crisis" coalition with the Socialists and the Communists, which went on to nominate him as candidate for the post of Prime Minister.

Under the new political configuration, Mr. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine bloc will join the ruling coalition in Parliament which has been renamed "National Unity Coalition."

Parliament is expected to vote on Mr. Yanukovich's candidacy for Prime Minister on Friday.

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