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 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.

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.

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.

Key players in Ukraine’s political crisis failed to resolve the tensions in nearly three hours of talks in Kiev tonight, but President Leonid Kuchma said progress was made.

Out-going Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has agreed to meet presidential election rivals Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych today in the presence of European envoys, a EU official said.

An ally of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko said today that the opposition is ready to hold talks with President Leonid Kuchma only about the peaceful transfer of power to Yushchenko.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych’s criminal record was revealed today amid media allegations that he tried to hide his past from voters ahead of the presidential election.

Hundreds of mourners gathered today for a memorial ceremony on the charred Ukrainian airstrip where a military jet ploughed into hundreds of spectators at an air show, killing at least 83.

Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko faced a parliamentary no-confidence vote today after an unlikely alliance of hard-liners and business-oriented centrists demanded the government of Ukraine be ousted.

Several thousand people have gathered in central Kiev to demand the resignation of Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma.