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Our Ukraine halts coalition talks with Party of Regions

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KIEV, July 13 (RIA Novosti, Anna Vernoslova) - Pro-presidential bloc Our Ukraine is breaking off talks with the pro-Russia Party of Regions on expanding a new coalition in the Ukrainian parliament, the country's foreign minister said Thursday.

Borys Tarasyuk, who is also a member of Our Ukraine, said: "Consultations with the Party of Regions faction were held, but their continuation is impossible due to the party's position." However, the minister did not give further details.

Consultations with President Viktor Yushchenko on the possibility of expanding the "anti-crisis" coalition had been underway for the last few days, but the sides failed to reach any agreements.

The new coalition emerged in the Supreme Rada last week and was officially formed Tuesday. It comprises the Party of Regions, which won the largest share of the March 26 parliamentary election, and the Socialist and Communist parties.

The Western-leaning "orange coalition" - the ex-premier-led Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, Our Ukraine, and the Socialists - broke up over the election of Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz as speaker of the Rada in breach of previous agreements within the coalition.

On Tuesday, Moroz said Ukraine had formed the new "anti-crisis" coalition, which led to ugly scenes, as members of the 450-seat legislature started several fist fights, traded insults and attempted to drown each other out with sirens and megaphones.

Following the latest crisis, President Yushchenko warned he did not rule the possibility of dissolving parliament and calling new elections.

Earlier Thursday, Our Ukraine's leader and current acting Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said his bloc was ready to join the coalition to form a majority in parliament, but without the Communist party.

Petro Symonenko, Communist Party leader, said his party could review its participation in the "anti-crisis" coalition if Our Ukraine joined it.

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