Ukraine ruling coalition heading toward collapse

I saw this one coming...The government of Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is reported to be teetering on the edge of collapse because of infighting between the parties of the two leaders.

Yushchenko and Tymoshenko were the heroes of Ukraine's pro-democracy "Orange Revolution" in 2004. They forced a contested presidential election to be re-run and were swept into power with promises of reform and closer ties to Europe. But both Yushchenko and Tymoshenko see themselves as the leader of the Orange Revolution and the rivalry between them soon split their coalition apart. That's why when they got back together to form a second ruling coalition seven months ago I didn't see it lasting.

Infighting has meant that a lot of their political policies have stalled. Inflation in Ukraine is now the highest in Europe and relations with Russia are faltering. Russians make up a large part of the population in Eastern Ukraine and many back the party of Victor Yanukovych, who Yushchenko defeated in the contested presidential election in 2005.

Now Yushchenko may have to form a coalition with Yanukovych if his government with Tymoshenko falls, a move that could stall Ukraine's plans to join NATO and the EU.