Ukraine's ruling coalition collapses

Ukraine's ruling coalition collapsed on 3 September 2008 after the party affiliated with President Viktor Yushchenko broke off from its partnership with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc. In response, Yushchenko has stated that he will dissolve Parliament and call new elections unless a new government is formed within 30 days. In his televised address, Yushchenko also stated that a "political and constitutional coup" is taking place, alleging that the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc had formed an alliance with the opposition Party of Regions and the communists; Tymoshenko Bloc members voted with opposition MPs on several laws that weakened the power of the president the day before.