Rival factions of the Ukrainian parliament have held their first joint session in three weeks, but failed to resolve their outstanding differences over the speaker of the house.

The session got underway after the majority centrist grouping supporting President Leonid Kuchma stormed into the parliament building where left-wingers had barricaded themselves.

But the speeches were drowned in the noise made by the opponents of President Kuchma's economic programme.

Each of the groups has chosen its own speaker and vies for legitimacy. The United States has said Ukraine must press head with real reforms if it wants to retain the goodwill of international creditors.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service