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M. Continuo

Ukraine to hold no confidence vote in govt on Wed


    KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament will hold a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Wednesday as newly elected President Viktor Yanukovich seeks to consolidate power in the assembly.

    The vote is likely to pass since among Ukraine's notoriously fickle lawmakers, Tymoshenko no longer controls a majority and has lost a number of key votes in recent months.

    If the vote succeeds, Tymoshenko and her government will remain until a new cabinet replaces them. Parliament faces weeks of horse trading to replace the ruling coalition and create a new government.

    An incoming government will have to tackle an economic crisis and restart talks with the International Monetary Fund on a suspended $16.4 billion bailout package.

    If the vote passes and the Tymoshenko-led alliance formally collapses, the various parliamentary factions have 30 days to form a new coalition and 60 days to form a new government.

    If this proves impossible, President Yanukovich has the right to call a new parliamentary election.

    (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)