Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich Saturday urged renewed talks with President Viktor Yushchenko to end the nation's ongoing political crisis.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych waves his hands in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, April 27, 2007. Yanukovych called on holding simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections, against Yushchenko's decree on dissolving parliament and holding early elections. (Xinhua Photo/Shen Bohan)
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Yushchenko announced a new decree on Wednesday, which postpones the May 27 elections to June 24.
Yanukovich told a press conference that this new decree has undermined talks launched after the first decree in early April. He demanded an immediate end to "pressure" which he alleged to have been exerted on courts, election officials and the security forces.
In Wednesday's televised speech, Yushchenko said that it was impossible to hold parliamentary elections in May as first proposed, since the Central Election Commission could not operate normally due to insufficient staff.
"If we sit down and come to the conclusion that elections are truly necessary, then such a decision will be taken," Yanukovich said.
A week ago, Yanukovich said that the crisis could be resolved only by holding simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections.
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