KIEV, July 10 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko??™s party, Our Ukraine, voted overwhelmingly on Monday to begin preparation for an early Parliamentary election amid growing disagreement with the pro-Russian coalition that had been created last week.

The move suggests Yushchenko has been increasingly considering the dismissal of Parliament as a way out of crisis after the Socialist Party had suddenly switched camps tilting balance towards the pro-Russian coalition.

The development indicates that confrontation may rise sharply between pro-Western groups and pro-Russian groups within the next three weeks before Yushchenko can obtain the right to dismiss Parliament.

???The decision was approved for the party to start preparation for the early election,??? Roman Bezmertniy, the leader of Our Ukraine, said after the party??™s meeting. ???The move [to dismiss Parliament] has to be taken by the president, but the party will be preparing for the next election.???

Earlier in the day, Yushchenko has been meeting Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the largest pro-Western group and an outspoken critic of the pro-Russian coalition, people familiar with the situation said. Tymoshenko has been vehemently supporting the idea of the dismissal.

The developments come days after the Regions Party, the leading force in the pro-Russian coalition, was joined by the Communist Party and the Socialist Party to create a 233-strong majority in the 450-seat Parliament.