Ukraine president, PM say agree on early election

KIEV, May 4 (Reuters) Ukraine's president and prime minister said today they have agreed, after months of confrontation over a division of powers, to hold an early parliamentary election ''We have reached an agreement in principle on holding an early parliamentary election,'' President Viktor Yushchenko told reporters after the two men met at the president's secretariat.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, the president's rival from the 2004 ''Orange Revolution'' protests, said: ''The main aim here is a joint decision on holding an honest democratic election.'' Neither leader gave an indication of timing.

In April the president issued two decrees dissolving parliament and ordering an election. Under the second decree issued last week, the poll was scheduled for June 24.

Yushchenko, addressing a news conference after his joint appearance with the prime minister, suggested that date would have to be postponed.

He gave no new time frame, but said the vote could take place in ''a space of time of about 60 days, to be counted from the adoption of the decision in principle.'' Yanukovich, speaking later at a rally in Kiev's Independence Square, said he and his allies favoured ''any concessions which will settle the crisis and keep it from deteriorating.'' ''The president and I have just met, as we have many times.

We have essentially come to the joint conclusion that there is no way to settle this crisis other than holding a democratic and honest election.'' Yanukovich had rejected the decrees and called instead for simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections.

REUTERS KK HS1945