The Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma, has warned leftist opponents who have barricaded themselves in the parliament building in Kiev that he may call early elections.

About 20 deputies from the left-wing minority in parliament that opposes President Kuchma's plans for economic reform have occupied the country's parliament, ready for any attempt by deputies loyal to President Kuchma to take the building.

Doctors have been examining a number who've gone on hunger strike.

But the majority of deputies, backing Mr Kuchma, have set up a rival parliament in a concert and exhibition hall just down the road.

The row is the latest stage of Mr Kuchma's long-running battle with old-guard politicians bent on blocking economic reform.

It is two weeks since Ukraine's latest political bust-up began, and still there's no sign of compromise.

Presidential moves

Mr Kuchma has assembled a majority of politicians loyal to him and the radical economic reforms he's trying to push through.

For too long, Mr Kuchma argues, the communist and radical leftists have hindered all efforts to institute reform.

At the same time, he's organising a referendum on whether to dismiss parliament and hold elections two years early. He wants public backing to establish the kind of powerful presidency which his counterparts in Russia and Belarus enjoy at the expense of parliament.

International concern

In the meantime, the patience of Ukraine's patrons in the West, principally the United States, is running out.

The State Department's special envoy to the former Soviet Union, Stephen Sestanovich, who's been in Kiev, said he believed the standoff could be resolved in line with the constitution.

But he also warned that politicians needed to end the crisis soon and press ahead with reforms if they're to retain the goodwill of the international creditors Ukraine depends on.

Mr Sestanovich also insisted Ukraine's leaders tackle high-level corruption. Westerners trying to do business there say corruption is one of the biggest hindrances to investment. Many say the problem starts with Mr Kuchma and his clique of advisors and administrators.