Leaders of pro-presidential parties in Ukraine have rejected a coalition that would include the rival party of outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Yury Lutsenko, the leader of the Self Defense Bloc, which is cooperating with President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine Party, says the groups favor a coalition with supporters of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. But both he and Ms. Tymoshenko Thursday dismissed the possibility of forming a broad coalition with Mr. Yanukovych's Party of Regions.
Their statements came a day after President Yushchenko urged all leading parties to strike a deal on a ruling coalition to end months of political impasse.
Speaking on national television Wednesday, the president said Ukraine will not have political stability until major parties make compromises. His arch-rival Mr. Yanukovych has welcomed the proposal.
Mr. Yushchenko's supporters together won about 45 percent of Sunday's vote. Backers of Mr. Yanukovych, who favors closer ties with Russia, won about 34 percent.
The political stand-off has all but paralyzed the Kyiv government for nearly a year.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
