Subject: Story Highlights

From: "Lora Eaton" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:25:30 +0200

The two blocs were central to the 2004 protests against electoral fraud that swept Yushchenko to power in peaceful upheaval known as the Orange Revolution. But the team shattered when he fired Tymoshenko as premier after seven months in office.Together, the parties won 228 seats in the 450-member legislature, Central Election Commission spokesman Konstantin Khivrenko said -- two clear of a majority. The rival party led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych won more votes than any other, but it was only enough for 175 seats.The signing appeared to be a response to Yushchenko's tacit endorsement of the so-called Orange coalition. Yushchenko urged the two forces to quickly form a cabinet."We have no time to waste, we have a number of urgent matters on the agenda," Yushchenko told Tymoshenko and the leaders of his bloc, according to the presidential Web site.The two parties also missed a chance to form the government together following the March 2006 parliamentary election, disappointing supporters.TOULOUSE, France (AP) -- French rock star Bertrand Cantat, convicted for beating his actress girlfriend to death, left prison Tuesday after spending four years behind bars.The traffic charges are the latest in what has been a difficult year for the former teen sensation. Timeline: Britney Spears in the news »After holding talks with the president, Tymoshenko and the leaders of the pro-Yushchenko party signed an agreement that gives Tymoshenko's party the right to name the prime minister -- virtually assuring she would get the post -- and allows Yushchenko's party to name the parliament speaker.The charges resulted from an August 6 incident in which Spears allegedly hit another car in a Studio City, California, parking lot. The paparazzi captured the accident on video.The pop star's first album of new material since 2003 is set for release later this month.