Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich increased pressure on Ukraine's president yesterday, boycotting the campaign for a poll ordered by a leader aiming to restore his authority 2-1/2 years after the "Orange Revolution".

Pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko this week brought to a head months of confrontation with his prime minister over Ukraine's future direction, dissolving the parliament backing Yanukovich and calling a May 27 election.

Under Ukrainian law, the campaign opened yesterday. But Yanukovich, defeated by the president in 2004 after weeks of "orange" protests, vowed he would have nothing to do with it until the Constitutional Court ruled on the presidential decree.

Hundreds of the prime minister's supporters have taken to the streets, putting up tent cities on the main Independence Square and outside parliament. But the numbers fall short of those that propelled Yushchenko to victory in 2004.

"Until the Constitutional Court examines this issue, we will engage in no preparations for any elections," Yanukovich told ministers.

"Given that the country is in such a tense situation, we must ensure that state institutions function ... and cut short any action, or indeed any talk, of an early election."

The prime minister's allies in parliament have asked the court to rule on the decree's legality. No ruling can be expected from the court for about a month.

Yushchenko has seen his authority and popularity, once regarded as assured due to his role in the revolution, fade.

His declining fortunes have boosted Yanukovich, who has poached members from the president's party and gained new supporters across the country with his no-nonsense attitude.

Analysts say Yushchenko, who hoped to modernize Ukraine's economy and bring the country more in line with Western values, has acted to stop Yanukovich getting enough backers in parliament to directly challenge the president's power.

Yushchenko said he dissolved parliament to "preserve the state".

Orange optimism fades

Many in the capital's streets said they were tired of political fighting and wanted no rerun of the revolution.

"I think there will be elections because if they don't happen people will just start fighting. Someone has to give way, there has to be a compromise," said Gennady, an IT specialist.

Yushchenko's victory in 2004 had prompted hopes among liberals that Ukraine, a country of about 47 million people lying between Russia and the European Union, could join the EU and NATO and see rising living standards.

But the president's supporters were disillusioned by rows among ministers, his powers were cut by constitutional change and his personal ratings sank to single figures.

The country remains poor by European standards. Average monthly wages stand at about $150 much less in the countryside.

Addressing Western ambassadors in Kiev, Yanukovich repeated a call for talks to end the standoff.

Opinion polls suggest a new election may not significantly change the make-up of parliament, with the prime minister's Regions Party in the lead, followed by the bloc of opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Source: China Daily/agencies