Timoshenko seeks new political partners

KIEV, Ukraine, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko is attempting to form a new political coalition that would avert the dissolution of parliament.

The party of President Viktor Yushchenko pulled out of its alliance with the Yulia Timoshenko Bloc because of disagreement on Russian military action in Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Yushchenko condemned Russia's invasion while Timoshenko remained neutral.

Andrei Kozhemyakin, deputy chairman of the YTB bloc, told reporters Wednesday that talks on a new political alignment have not reached the point of discussing who would get which government posts, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.

The breakup of the ruling coalition was announced Tuesday. If a new parliamentary majority has not formed by Oct. 16, Yushchenko can dissolve parliament and call for an election, although he does not have to.