New crisis in Ukraine as coalition collapses

Ukraine has been plunged into political crisis again following the collapse of the ruling coalition. The governing parties of President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are pro-western but are deeply divided over other issues.  Tensions recently came to a head over the subject of presidential powers. 
 
The long-anticipated fall of the government was confirmed in parliament today. 
 
The various parties have now 30 days to patch together a new coalition.  If they fail the President may call a new election, something none of the major parties have an appetite for.
 
Yuschenko and Tymoshenko were firm allies when together they spearheaded the “Orange Revolution” that brought pro-Western factions to power in 2004. 
 
But the weaknesses within the alliance soon came to the surface and ongoing squabbling has resulted in three elections in as many years. 
 
The talks that led to the creation of the now defunct coalition lasted several weeks and Ukaine is bracing for more of the same.