The European Union has announced its suspending efforts to reach an association agreement with Ukraine.

Ukraine’s pro-Russian parliamentary majority warned President Viktor Yushchenko today against dissolving parliament and calling new elections, threatening that the move could trigger a battle for power in this ex-Soviet republic.

AS Ukraine’s popular pro-western opposition leader laid claim to victory Tuesday in hotly contested presidential elections, the mystery surrounding an appearance-altering illness, that twice prompted him to check into a Vienna hospital, persisted.