Ukraine's supreme constitutional court on Tuesday began consideration of a dispute between parliament and President Viktor Yushchenko over new elections and the division of power in the former Soviet republic. A pro-Europe politician supporting market reform, Yushchenko earlier this month ordered parliament dissolved, arguing the ruling coalition had formed a legislative majority in violation of constitutional statute, reported the dpa. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, a pro-Russia politician favouring government support to industrial tycoons, has led the legislature's outright refusal to stop work. The unresolved conflict has left the country in a constitutional crisis since April 2. More than 1,000 demonstrators representing both sides of the dispute and a few police were outside the constitutional court building in a wealthy neighbourhood of central Kiev. -- SPA
