Ukraine may upset Cheney's plans

With Dick Cheney on his tour of the Asian Republics in an effort to assure the former Soviet States of American support,Ukraine's turbulent democracy is once again stumbling as President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to dissolve parliament as the coalition in the country's parliament once again collapses.

The collapse of the coalition is another sign of the split in the country between Pro Moscow and Pro Western factions.

Mr Yushchenko's supporters walked out in protest following new laws trimming the president's powers.
The laws were introduced by the pro-Russian opposition and backed by Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party.

The splits have dogged the fledgling democracy since the Orange revolution with Yushchenko supporter of Georgia during the conflict but the prime minister's party blocked a parliamentary resolution condemning Moscow.

Currently in Azerbaijan the Vice President is due to meet with President Ilham Aliev before going onto Georgia and Ukraine.

Azerbaijan is important for the United States trying to ensure its oil wealth is exported to the West, and thus bypassing Russia.