More delay for Ukraine president

UKRAINE’S central election commission put off a meeting yesterday to finalise paperwork from last month’s presidential election, leaving plans to inaugurate liberal Viktor Yushchenko in limbo for another day.

Events in Ukraine typically grind to a halt with the New Year holidays. But critics have complained that allies of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma could drag out the transition, perhaps to cover the tracks of shady deals.

Since the election, one outgoing cabinet member was shot dead, while others were sacked or left the country.