Yushchenko pushes Kiev officials to OK Tymoshenko

KIEV, Aug 13 (Reuters) Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko urged officials today to resolve a ''technical'' row and allow fiery former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, his main ally, to take part in next month's parliamentary election.

Tymoshenko, a key figure in the ''Orange Revolution'' that swept Yushchenko to power in 2004, was barred from running at the weekend by election officials on grounds that her candidates had failed to provide complete home addresses.

Thousands of supporters, wearing t-shirts bearing her white colours emblazoned with a heart, set up a makeshift tent camp outside the offices of the Central Election Commission.

But it appeared a matter of time before Tymoshenko's list was approved. Even backers of her arch rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, acknowledge she will win permission to run.

Marina Stavnichuk, deputy head of the president's office, predicted obstacles to Tymoshenko's campaign would be resolved.

''This conflict should soon be over. At issue here are some shortcomings in the commission's work and technical matters,'' she told a news conference.

And she quoted the president as saying: ''I hereby appeal to the Central Election to return voluntarily to the question of registering the candidates of Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc without waiting for any court ruling.'' Tymoshenko was Yushchenko's first prime minister after he was elected, but was fired within eight months as they fell out.

They have now vowed to work together in next month's poll.

Tymoshenko says she compiled her list in accordance with rules. She has accused the commission of blocking her candidates under pressure from Yanukovich, and launched court action.

The new election aims to end months of confrontation pitting the president against the prime minister, who was defeated in a rerun of the rigged 2004 election but returned to office after his party took first place in a parliamentary poll last year.

Most observers say last year's election was the cleanest in Ukraine's post-Soviet history, with previous polls subject to allegations of cheating from all sides.

Yushchenko dissolved parliament and called the new election after accusing Yanukovich of illegally enticing deputies to expand his majority in the assembly.

Polls suggest parliament's composition is unlikely to change. Yanukovich's party, allied with the Communists, commands more than 30 percent support. The president's Our Ukraine party and the Tymoshenko bloc each have about 15 percent.

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