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| Ukraine rivals agree to snap poll | Ukraine rivals agree to snap poll |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's president and prime minister have agreed to hold early parliamentary elections in a bid to end weeks of political deadlock, reports say. | Ukraine's president and prime minister have agreed to hold early parliamentary elections in a bid to end weeks of political deadlock, reports say. |
| The pair reached an agreement "in principle" on holding early elections, but there was no word of a date. | The pair reached an agreement "in principle" on holding early elections, but there was no word of a date. |
| PM Viktor Yanukovych had previously denounced plans by President Viktor Yushchenko to hold elections in June. | PM Viktor Yanukovych had previously denounced plans by President Viktor Yushchenko to hold elections in June. |
| Mr Yushchenko sparked a crisis last month by dissolving parliament and calling a snap poll. | Mr Yushchenko sparked a crisis last month by dissolving parliament and calling a snap poll. |
| He originally said the vote would be held in May, but later moved the date back to June after widespread protests. | He originally said the vote would be held in May, but later moved the date back to June after widespread protests. |
| Both men confirmed their decision, reached during a face-to-face meeting. | Both men confirmed their decision, reached during a face-to-face meeting. |
| "We have reached an agreement in principle on holding an early parliamentary election," Mr Yushchenko told reporters. | "We have reached an agreement in principle on holding an early parliamentary election," Mr Yushchenko told reporters. |
| 'No other way' | |
| Speaking to a large crowd of supporters in Kiev's Independence Square, Mr Yanukovych said it was the right decision to agree to elections. | |
| "We have reached the same conclusion that there is no other way to resolve this crisis than to organise honest and democratic elections," he said. | |
| Mr Yanukovych and his supporters had opposed Mr Yushchenko's call for elections since he dissolved parliament on 2 April. | |
| The president had accused the prime minister of trying to usurp his power by illegally luring pro-Western lawmakers over to his coalition to increase his parliamentary majority. | |
| The pair have been bitter rivals since Mr Yushchenko successfully overturned a disputed presidential election result in 2004 after mobilising thousands of supporters in central Kiev to protest against Mr Yanukovych's claim of victory. |