FORMER Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Kravchenko shot himself yesterday, hours before prosecutors were to question him about the killing of an investigative journalist five years ago.

Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Kravchenko shot himself today, hours before prosecutors were to question him about the killing of an investigative journalist five years ago.

Ukraine’s former Interior Minister Yuri Kravchenko was found dead today, hours before prosecutors were to question him about the killing of an investigative journalist five years ago, officials said.

Ukraine’s former Interior Minister Yuri Kravchenko was found dead today at his country house outside Kiev, officials said.

Ukrainian authorities today detained suspects for the beheading of a prominent internet journalist who had revealed top-level corruption in the former regime.

Viktor Yushchenko will be inaugurated Ukraine’s new president on Sunday, setting the stage for the transition to a new government following months of divisive political crisis.

Anna Melnichuk, Kiev

Ukrainian Transport Minister Heorhiy Kirpa, a supporter of the trailing candidate in Sunday’s presidential election, apparently killed himself, an official said today.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko celebrated his apparently decisive triumph in Ukraine’s protracted presidential contest today, thanking the protesters who spent weeks camped out in the capital’s frigid streets for securing his electoral victory and the nation’s freedom.

EARLY results showed opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has won the presidential election in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych accused his rival today of an unfair election campaign in the run-up to the December 26 re-run of the presidential vote and said his camp would retaliate.

Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko promised today to prosecute government officials and their supporters for crimes committed during the last decade should he win the country’s December 26 re-run of the presidential election.

Ukraine’s two presidential candidates mapped out campaign strategies before the repeat of last month’s fraud-marred election run-off, as dozens of protesters maintained a vigil today outside the president’s office.

UKRAINE'S civil servants went back to work for the first time in weeks as the opposition lifted its blockade of government buildings and a political crisis eased following a compromise with the ruling regime.

Ukraine’s outgoing President Leonid Kuchma today fired the country’s prosecutor general, following demands from the opposition.

Protesters in Kiev lifted their siege of Ukraine’s government building today as tensions following weeks of demonstrations ebbed with parliament’s adoption of electoral reform before a new presidential run-off vote at the end of the month.

THE Ukrainian parliament yesterday voted in measures to make election fraud less likely in the presidential re-match on December 26.

Ukraine’s parliament adopted electoral and constitutional changes today in a compromise intended to defuse the nation’s political crisis – prompting opposition leaders to say they would lift a blockade of government buildings.

Ukraine’s parliament adopted a package of electoral and constitutional changes today in a compromise intended to defuse the nation’s festering political crisis. The vote was approved in a 402-21 vote with 19 abstentions. MPs stood and cheered as President Leonid Kuchma signed the measure in the chamber.

THE struggle for power in Ukraine shifted to the corridors of parliament as lawmakers tried to break a deadlock between the ruling regime and the opposition over legislative changes ahead of a new presidential runoff vote.

Rival factions in Ukraine’s parliament failed today to agree on passing electoral changes aimed at ensuring a fair vote in the nation’s December 26 presidential run-off.

A tentative deal to ease Ukraine’s political crisis snagged today over the opposition’s refusal to endorse constitutional changes and President Leonid Kuchma’s rejection of the call to fire his prime minister.

UKRAINE’S president Leonid Kuchma called round table talks in Kiev last night and said he would go along with a presidential run-off on December 26 as set out by the Supreme Court.

Ukraine’s parliament will meet in emergency session on Tuesday to consider changes to the country’s electoral laws before the December 26 presidential run-off election.

Shrugging off a parliamentary setback and seizing on his Supreme Court victory, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko pushed for quick passage of anti-fraud legislation to ensure a new vote is fair against his Moscow-backed rival, who has fallen out of public view.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko kicked off campaigning for Ukraine’s December 26 presidential rerun with a call for speedy anti-fraud legislation, as supporters began signing up in droves to monitor balloting and ensure a fair vote.

THE Ukrainian President is under siege, with demands for his resignation increasing from the orange revolution that has already effectively forced out the government and had fraudulent elections set aside.

Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko kicked off campaigning for the December 26 presidential rerun with a call for quick passage of anti-fraud legislation as supporters began signing up en masse to monitor balloting and ensure a fair vote.

The campaign for a third round of voting in Ukraine’s bitterly fought presidential contest officially opened today, with activists signing up to monitor the election and a top ally of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko speaking confidently of victory.

Supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko kept up their siege of government buildings today after pro-government lawmakers blocked election law changes designed to ensure fair balloting in a re-run of the country’s presidential runoff.

Ukraine’s outgoing President Leonid Kuchma today accused the opposition of reneging on compromise agreements and called for quick foreign mediation of his nation’s post-election political crisis.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko suffered a setback in the Ukraine’s parliament today when his foes blocked electoral amendments intended to avert fraud in a new presidential runoff later this month.

Ukraine’s parliament is meeting today to set the wheels in motion for a new presidential election, after the disputed run-off was declared void by the Supreme Court.

Ukraine’s Supreme Court will hear final arguments today on opposition demands for a revote of the disputed presidential election.

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin become more deeply embroiled in the Ukrainian crisis yesterday and attacked the opposition's push to repeat the nation's disputed presidential run-off election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin become more deeply embroiled in the Ukrainian crisis today and attacked the opposition’s push to repeat the nation’s disputed presidential run-off election.

Outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma flew to Moscow today for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko promised his shivering supporters their round-the clock vigil in the Ukrainian capital would bring victory soon.

Ukraine’s opposition brought down the government today, and opposition leader, Viktor Yuschenko, signed a compromise deal that obliges his supporters to immediately lift their siege of government buildings.

In a dramatic reversal, Ukraine’s parliament passed a vote of no-confidence in the government today, mustering three more votes than necessary to carry the motion.

International mediators were renewing efforts today to defuse Ukraine’s political crisis, with the opposition and government locked in a tense stand-off awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the disputed results of the presidential election.

European mediators are renewing efforts today to broker a solution to Ukraine’s disputed presidential election as the government and the opposition remained locked in a tense stand-off.

Ukraine was awaiting a supreme court verdict on its tainted presidential election today with all signs pointing to another poll, perhaps as early as next month.

Ukraine’s Supreme Court began its second day of hearings today on an opposition appeal against the bitterly disputed presidential runoff.