Ukrainian President's Party Enters Opposition
July 18, 2006
Activists in Kyiv demonstrate against the anti-crisis coalition on July 17 (epa)
Lawmaker Anatoliy Kinakh announced the move and declared that the party accepted the legitimacy of the new, pro-Moscow parliamentary coalition.
"We welcome the announcement of an anti-crisis coalition [led by the Party of Regions] today in strict accordance with the constitution and [parliamentary] regulations," Kinakh said. "Proceeding from this fact, as of today the faction of the Our Ukraine political bloc is officially in a minority, that is in opposition."
Last week, the Party of Regions, led by former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, formed a new parliamentary coalition with the Socialist Party and the Communists.
Today, hundreds of rival protesters -- supporters and opponents of the new coalition -- gathered outside the parliament building. They are blocking off the street and shouting "shame" at each other as two lines of riot police separate them.
(AP, Reuters, ITAR-TASS)