Ukrainian rival leaders hold talks amid unrest

UKRAINE’S pro-Western president Viktor Yushch- enko held crisis talks last night with his prime minister, as a deepening power struggle between the two rivals brought thousands onto the streets in protest.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who favours closer ties with Russia, refused to comment after four hours of talks.

Earlier in the day, he had condemned the president’s decision to dissolve parliament as “a fatal mistake” and urged an emergency session of the legislature to defy the order and keep working.