Ukraine's parliament has adjourned a session on the disputed presidential poll, failing to pass a no-confidence motion in PM Viktor Yanukovych. Only 196 of the 410 MPs present backed the move. The speaker of parliament said the session was getting too confrontational and would be resumed on Wednesday.
There were dramatic scenes as several protesters backing opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko - who says the poll was rigged - entered the parliament. They broke through police cordons and into the parliament's lobby, shortly after lawmakers provisionally adopted a measure to annul Saturday's non-binding decision to declare the 21 November presidential run-off invalid. The protesters were later pushed back. Trying to calm the situation, parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn pledged that MPs would not repeal its previous decision.
Mr Yushchenko also urged protesters not to try to seize the parliament, described by some opposition leaders as the last "bastion of democracy". The opposition's no-confidence motion called for a dismissal of the government to prevent anti-constitutional actions and separatism threatening the country's integrity. A vote of no-confidence in the government would have no legal effect, but correspondents say it would be a big symbolic victory for Mr Yushchenko, a pro-Western liberal. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court continues to hear opposition allegations of vote-rigging [BBC].
