Socialist candidate backs Yushchenko

KIEV, Ukraine, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Ukrainian Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz Saturday agreed to support pro-American Vikor Yushchenko in the Nov. 21 presidential election run-off.

Moroz and Yushchenko signed an agreement in Kiev Saturday, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Moroz, finished third in the first round of the Ukrainian presidential election Oct. 31 behind Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yahukovych, who is the preferred candidate of incumbent Leonid Kuchma and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The political executive committee of the Socialist Party of Ukraine decided to sign an agreement with Yushchenko on backing him, Alexander Zinchenko told Itar-Tass news agency. Moroz and SPU activists will be taking part in Yushchenko's campaign, according to Yushchenko's associates.

Moroz's support could be decisive for Yushchenko, who has been running strongly. In the first round, he won 5.8 percent of the vote. Yanukoyvych narrowly led Yushchenko with 39.9 percent compared with 39.2 percent.