Ukraine, Britain postpone joint exercises

KIEV, June 8 (Reuters) Ukraine and Britain have postponed planned joint exercises, Ukraine's Defence Minister was today quoted as saying, following a political stalemate that has halted the work of parliament.

''We held discussions today with the British defence ministry and, given the current situation, decided to postpone the 'Tight Knot' 2006 military exercises,'' Interfax news agency quoted Anatoly Hrytsenko as saying in Brussels.

A series of planned joint exercises with Western countries has sparked small protests in Ukraine by pro-Russian groups. Parliament, embroiled in slow-moving talks on forming a coalition government, must endorse the presence of foreign troops Reuters KD VV1957