Ukraine's opposition ends sit-in

Opposition MPs even threaten to go on a hunger strike

Ukraine's opposition has agreed to stop blocking the work of parliament, ending a week-long sit-in in the building.

The main opposition Party of Regions (PR) said its demands for better representation had now been met.

The end of the protest means that lawmakers can finally appoint a new prime minister and government.

The governing coalition has been formed by parties who backed the so-called Orange Revolution in 2004 which swept President Viktor Yushchenko to power.

Although the PR won the most seats in the general elections in March this year, it was not enough to form a majority in the parliament.

The PR had complained that the new governing coalition was not acting in a constitutional manner.

Its protests have weakened the fragile Orange Revolution which took months to create, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Kiev reports.