Ukraine lobbyist becomes PM

Kinakh: "Emollient" style of politics

Crisis-hit Ukraine has a new prime minister - a business lobbyist who was the embattled president's choice for the post.

Anatoly Kinakh, 46, replaces reformist Viktor Yushchenko, who was ousted in April after communists and big business interests joined forces against him.

Mr Kinakh was chosen by President Leonid Kuchma, who is mired in a scandal over the death of a journalist, and beset by economic problems.

President Kuchma: Beset by scandal

Mr Yushchenko's reforms had begun to turn the economy around, say correspondents, but Mr Kuchma saw him as a possible rival.

Mr Kinakh was approved as prime minister despite the abstention of the Communist Party, the biggest bloc in parliament, which said Mr Kinakh did not have a clear programme.

Despite the communists' lack of support, Mr Kinakh achieved well over 50% of MPs' votes.

'Few clear policies'

BBC correspondent Robert Parsons, who is in Kiev, says the outcome is a triumph for Mr Kuchma, but perhaps not for Ukraine. He says Mr Kinakh's emollient style of politics means he has few enemies but few clear policies either.

Ukraine is now set for several months of drift, at least until next March's parliamentary elections, he says, leaving it in the grip of scandal and corruption in the meantime.

Only with common efforts will we be able to realise the enormous potential of our country

Anatoly Kinakh

Western support for Ukraine has been waning as the crisis has continued, and Russia has made efforts to woo the country into closer ties.

Mr Kinakh, who heads the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, has promised to continue market reforms but also indicated he may accommodate some demands of the Communist Party.

He is also expected to try to avoid antagonising Mr Kuchma, a mix of priorities which observers believe could lead to confusion and lack of direction, but which Mr Kinakh says offer the best way forward.

Yushchenko: Remains popular

"Only with common efforts will we be able to realise the enormous potential of our country," he told parliament.

"Our future is a free and rich Ukraine."

Earlier, he insisted he would seek the best for Ukraine.

"The great trust which Ukraine's parliament and president have placed in me cannot be separated from the great responsibility of leading the government for the good of the country, for carrying out effective reforms and for constructive co-operation between the branches of government," he said.

The ousted Mr Yushchenko remains the most popular politician in Ukraine, although a wave of street protests calling for Mr Kuchma's resignation has subsided.

Mr Kuchma has fought to counter claims that he ordered the death of anti-government journalist Georgiy Gongadze, whose headless body was found last year in a forest.