KIEV, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the speaker of Ukraine's Supreme Rada, announced his resignation Wednesday after the collapse of the country's ruling pro-Western coalition.

The coalition, comprising blocs led by President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was dissolved Tuesday. The legislature now has 30 days to form a new coalition or face an early poll, the third since Yushchenko came to power.

The former speaker, who currently enjoys the support of 3-4% of the population, announced that if early parliamentary elections take place, he would set up his own party. The parliamentary threshold stands at 3%.

Ex-speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said Yatsenyuk had made his first step towards an independent political career.

"It is a long-term statement," Lytvyn said. "He has made a claim to participate in future political campaigns."

According to the coalition agreement, signed last year by the pro-presidential Our Ukraine and Tymoshenko's bloc, the speaker and prime minister will have to step down if the coalition collapses.

However, as the coalition agreement was not legally binding, the prime minister announced that her government would continue its work. In any case, the cabinet would continue to perform its duties until the new government is formed, either by a new coalition, or after early parliamentary elections.