Tymoshenko ousted

The parliament of Ukraine has passed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

A total of 243 delegates in the 450-seat chamber voted for the motion put forward by the Regions Party, led by Ukraine's new president Viktor Yanukovych.

Yanukovych defeated Tymoshenko in the country's presidential elections last month.

According to the constitution of Ukraine, the government must now resign but may continue in an interim capacity until a new regime is in place.

Before the vote, Tymoshenko had said she would resign if parliament approved the motion. "If the vote to oust the government is passed, our government will quit its offices immediately," Tymoshenko said. "Our political force will go into opposition at once."

Need to form new majority

It is expected that a new coalition will be formed around the Regions Party. Until now, Yanukovych - who called on Tymoshenko to step down immediately after the election, has been unable to establish the parliamentary majority he needs to run the country.

Among the candidates for the post of prime minister is former finance minister Mykola Azarov. "The talks are not simple but I think they will be finalised in the coming days," he said.

The Regions Party has 30 days to form a coalition capable of governing. Should it fail, Yanukovych will be able to dissolve parliament and call an election.

Yanukovych aide Anna German also suggested that former president Viktor Yushchenko could make a good prime minister.

Yushchenko was bitterly opposed to Yanukovych, who is seen as pro-Russian in his policies, during the 2004 Orange Revolution. The two have since resolved many of their differences in their mutual opposition to Tymoshenko.

rc/AFP/AP/Reuters
Editor: Rob Turner