UKRAINE'S PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER TKACHENKO PRESIDES DURING A SESSION, 2000-01-21 (photo)

Ukrainan Parliamentary speaker Olexander Tkachenko presides during a session at the Parliament in Kiev after some 240 centrist and right-wing deputies, presided over by deputy speaker Viktor Medvedchuk, split off to hold a separate session and vote to remove Tkachenko from his post, January 21. Passions in the ex-Soviet state's parliament rose last week when some 240 deputies formed a majority in support of President Leonid Kuchma, who had repeatedly blamed the chamber for blocking reforms and spoiling relations with foreign creditors. A simple majority of 226 parliamentarians is needed to make a parliamentary session and voting valid. YK/GB