KIEV, Oct. 18 ??“ Opposition lawmakers Tuesday joined forces with moderate leftist pro-government groups to approve bills seeking to derail a $2 bln auction selling Kryvorizhstal, Ukraine??™s largest steelmaker, due in less than a week.

Lawmakers from the Regions Party, a group controlled by former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the Communist Party and others mustered 255 votes in 450-seat Parliament to approve the bills suspending the privatization.