Ukraine's PM rejects call for election

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich rejected on Thursday a presidential decree to stage a new election, again refusing to take part in a poll he says is unconstitutional.

"We reject any form of early elections," Yanukovich told a news conference. He urged the president to start talks afresh on "a new page" and try to find a compromise to end the increasingly tense standoff.

Earlier, President Viktor Yushchenko threatened to prosecute Yanukovich if he refused to take part in the election.