UPDATE 1-Ukraine leader gives politicians 5 days on govt

Mon Oct 8, 2007 6:50pm BST
 
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(Adds prime minister going to Moscow)

By Yuri Kulikov

KIEV, Oct 8 (Reuters) - President Viktor Yushchenko on Monday gave Ukraine's political leaders, deeply suspicious of each other, until the end of the week to come up with the framework for a new government and agree on a prime minister.

He said the parties behind the 2004 "Orange Revolution" that swept him to power had grounds to form a coalition, but they needed the cooperation of the Regions Party of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, the rival he defeated during the revolution.

"I call on all political sides to start consultations and political talks and to propose a coalition and a prime minister within five days," Yushchenko said after meeting the five parties which won seats in last week's election.

"The Orange camp has the basis for forming a coalition in parliament, but only after other political parties have constructive relations with it."

The pro-Western camp, made up of the bloc of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko and the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party, had long agreed that she should get her job back if they won enough seats.

Appointed by Yushchenko after he came to power, Tymoshenko was sacked within eight months. The two reconciled in the campaign and their parties got the biggest share of the vote, but the Regions Party was the largest single group.

Yushchenko last week confounded his allies by calling for the Regions party to be given some cabinet jobs. He had earlier backed the Orange camp with Tymoshenko as future prime minister.  Continued...

 

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