Ukraine's 'Orange' Parties Form Coalition

Yuliya Tymoshenko looks set to become prime minister again (file photo) (Ukrinform) June 22, 2006 -- Three groups that backed Ukraine's pro-Western Orange Revolution have signed an agreement to establish a coalition government. The accord comes after nearly three months of negotiations.

Under the deal, Yuliya Tymoshenko is to be reinstated as prime minister. She was fired from the post last year following a disagreement with Yushchenko.

The Our Ukraine bloc will select the next speaker of the legislature.

The coalition is made up of President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party, Tymoshenko's bloc, and the Socialist Party.

The agreement ends three months of political deadlock following Ukraine's parliamentary elections in March.

The Verkhovna Rada began its session today with a commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

(Channel 5, Reuters)