/europe
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- The Ukraine's parliament elected Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister on Tuesday, a move that could accelerate the former Soviet republic's push to become closer to the West.
Yulia Tymoshenko celebrates after becoming elected as the prime minister of the Ukraine.
Tymoshenko won 226 votes -- the bare majority needed in the 450-member parliament -- from deputies in her bloc and the party of President Viktor Yushchenko.
Before the vote in the Verkhovna Rada, Tymoshenko declared that the coalition was solid.
"You have two patriots in politics who will hold this flag up high and never drop it," said the fiery and controversial heroine of the Orange Revolution in November 2004 .
But the close vote illustrated the difficulties ahead.
The opposition -- led by pro-Russia former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych -- is in strong position to fight initiatives by the Western-leaning reformist coalition.
The 47-year-old Tymoshenko was deputy to Yushchenko during his term as prime minister in 2000-2001
She was named acting prime minister by Yushchenko in 2005 but he then sacked her along with the entire government in September of that year.
Tymoshenko then formed her own bloc, while Yushchenko launched his Our Ukraine party. E-mail to a friend 
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
All About Viktor Yushchenko • Ukraine • Yuliya Tymoshenko
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