Rift at top tests Ukraine parties

President Viktor Yushchenko suffered a major blow at the polls

Ukraine's new parliament has met for the first time since the general election in March.

The election was praised as the freest and fairest ever held in the former Soviet republic.

The pro-Russian opposition won the largest share of the vote but failed to clinch enough for outright victory.

Talks are said to be continuing between President Viktor Yushchenko's party and other pro-Western parties, who have not yet managed to form a coalition.

The BBC's Helen Fawkes, in Kiev, says it is has proved extremely difficult for former allies from the Orange Revolution - especially Mr Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko - to reunite.

But following Thursday's opening session, a coalition has to be formed within one month, otherwise the president could dissolve parliament and hold a new election.

MPs gathered in the chamber on Thursday as the poem Love Ukraine was read out. They then retired to sign oaths.

Mr Yushchenko is expected to address the chamber when it reconvenes later.