Socialist Ukraine speaker, orange coalition in doubt

KIEV, July 6 (Reuters) Socialist Oleksander Moroz was elected speaker of parliament today with the help of Ukraine's opposition, jeopardising a prospective government coalition made up of backers of the 2004 ''Orange Revolution''.

Moroz won 238 votes in the 450-seat assembly with support from the Regions Party, sympathetic to Moscow, and Communists.

His election was at variance with an agreement signed by three ''orange'' parties and could pave the way for a new coalition bringing together supporters of pro-Western president Viktor Yushchenko and the opposition, analysts say.

Reuters DH VP0245