Ukraine president backs liberal Tymoshenko as PM

By Sabina Zawadzki

KIEV (Reuters) - President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday backed Yulia Tymoshenko to become Ukraine's prime minister for the second time despite a record of awkward differences between the two "Orange Revolution" allies.

The president submitted a letter to parliament with the nomination and suggested that deputies proceed quickly with a vote to put her back in office.

Tymoshenko, a former gas magnate who rouses crowds with calls for social justice, heads one of two "orange" groups making up a shaky post-election coalition in parliament.

The "orange" coalition is made up of 227 deputies from Tymoshenko's bloc and the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party -- one more than the number of votes needed to secure election.

"I will do everything so that the Ukrainian parliament and a full-fledged government can begin work as quickly as possible," Yushchenko told reporters after submitting his letter.

Speaking alongside Poland's president, he said it made little difference whether parliament first endorsed the prime minister or examined what "orange" coalition members see as key pieces of legislation.

"The main thing is that in votes the coalition not be subject to friction on issues that could cause cracks in its attempts to consolidate," he said. "Every vote should count."

Tymoshenko, with her trademark peasant braid and designer outfits, issued fiery calls to action at Yushchenko's side during the 2004 protests. She became prime minister immediately after he won a re-run of a rigged presidential election.