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Ukraine's president urges formation of parliamentary coalition

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Ukraine's president called on the country's deadlocked political groups Wednesday to form a parliamentary coalition without further delay, the presidential press secretary said.

KIEV, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's president called on the country's deadlocked political groups Wednesday to form a parliamentary coalition without further delay, the presidential press secretary said.

"We need to draw a line under the process of forming a coalition and form it immediately - form the leadership of the Supreme Rada [parliament], governing bodies and a government," Irina Gerashchenko quoted President Viktor Yushchenko as saying, adding that the president himself would voice his position shortly.

Western-leaning parties in Ukraine have been in talks on forming an "orange" coalition since the elections March 26 failed to produce a clear winner. But talks - involving the bloc of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the Socialist Party and pro-presidential grouping Our Ukraine - broke down when Our Ukraine pulled out, saying it would talk to the Party of Regions instead.

Tymoshenko refused from the start to deal with largely pro-Russian Party of Regions, led by her bitter foe, former presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych, whom Yushchenko defeated in the "orange revolution" of late 2004. The "orange" talks were also complicated by disagreements on who should be prime minister, and then on a candidate for parliamentary speaker.

Earlier Wednesday, Raisa Bohatyreva, leader of the Party of Regions' parliamentary faction, proposed the creation of a "grand coalition" in an apparent bid to break the deadlock. Some analysts suggested after the elections that such a coalition - probably also involving pro-Yushchenko groups - could provide political stability and help get the country's economy back on track.

Gerashchenko, Yushchenko's press secretary, said the president had expressed the hope that a coalition would appear in the 10 days left before a constitutionally mandated time-limit runs out.

Under Ukraine's Constitution, parliament should forge a coalition within 30 days after its first session, which took place May 25. If members of parliament fail to reach an agreement, the president is entitled to disband the legislature and call new elections.

Two parliamentary sessions so far have ended in lawmakers voting on an immediate recess to allow coalition talks to continue.

Yushchenko said earlier he would not call new elections.

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