The development underscores quickly worsening relations between the pro-Russian coalition and Yushchenko, a pro-Western leader, and strengthens positions of those who recommend the president to dismiss Parliament.

Yushchenko has been seeking to replace the pro-Russian coalition with a coalition consisting of Our Ukraine, a pro-Western party, and the Regions Party, a pro-Russian group.

Our Ukraine has been also insisting on nominating Yuriy Yekhanurov, Yushchenko??™s long-time ally, as the prime minister, while the Regions Party would appoint the speaker of Parliament.

But the talks collapsed on Thursday after Yanukovych had flatly refused to expel the Communist Party, a vehemently pro-Russian group, from the coalition. Yanukovych also refused to surrender the post of the prime minister.

Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, Yushchenko??™s ally who has been holding the talks on behalf of Our Ukraine, said: ???We can??™t sit with the Communists at the same table??¦ I don??™t see any progress in the talks.???

???This meant that Our Ukraine could not risk joining a coalition which included the Communists for risk of losing its own grass roots support,??? Timothy Ash, an analyst with Bear Stearns International in London, said.

Yanukovych, the leader of the Regions Party, flatly ruled out a compromise with Our Ukraine on both issues.

???We view the proposals made by Our Ukraine??¦ as its unwillingness to continue or its willingness to block the negotiations over the grand coalition,??? Yanukovych said. ???This is our principle position.???

In a letter to Parliament on Thursday, Yushchenko again warned the pro-Russian coalition that it had been created with violations of law and that??™s why its decisions are illegitimate.

???Based on this, I suggest Parliament to immediately start working in line with the constitution and regulations, including on issues such as the coalition and nomination of the prime minister,??? Yushchenko said. (tl/ez)