Ukraine parliament confirms election date

KIEV, Ukraine, June 24 (UPI) -- The Ukraine Parliament voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to schedule the next presidential election for Jan. 17.

Of 442 registered parliamentarians, 399 deputies voted to confirm the election date, Interfax-Ukraine reported Wednesday.

The parliamentary approval formally ended a dispute over whether the election would be held in October or January. The Constitutional Court supported Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who favored Jan. 17.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko plans to challenge Yushchenko for the presidency. The two were close allies in the 2004 Orange Revolution but have turned into bitter rivals since, bringing the country to a political crisis by blocking the work of government bodies.