Ukraine to hold early parliamentary elections on Sept 30

Moscow, May 27 (UNI) Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his rival Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich today agreed on holding parliamentary elections on September 30.

Mr Yushchenko announced the agreement, after hours of tense negotiations between the two political rivals, to end the long-running political crisis in Ukraine.

"We reached a compromise. Each party made concessions to develop a document which sets the date for the elections - September 30," Interfax news agency quoted Yushchenko as saying. "Now, We can say that the political crisis in Ukraine is over," he added.

"We remember everything, we will draw conclusions," Mr Yanukovich said adding "We will do everything so that this is not repeated, so that there are no more mistakes, no more emotions." The political crisis in Ukraine was triggered by a decree issued by the pro-West Yushchenko to dissolve the parliament on April 2 and hold early elections.

The parliament and the Cabinet dominated by pro-Russian Yanukovich's supporters, refused to obey the order and referred it to the Constitutional Court.

The power struggle between the two rivals further intensified last Thursday when Yushchenko dismissed the country's top prosecutor loyal to Yanukovich.

Fresh disagreements flared on Friday when Mr Yushchenko announced his intention to take control of 40,000 Interior Ministry troops.

His order came a day after the riot police, acting on the orders of Interior Minister, defended the offices of Ukraine's Prosecutor-General, a Yanukovich ally whom Mr Yushchenko had sacked.

He then ordered some 3,500 troops to head to Kiev but they were turned back by the forces loyal to Mr Yanukovich.

UNI