Ukraine's parliament opens without quorum
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-01 17:19

Ukraine's parliament opened on Wednesday without a quorum, hurting opposition hopes of pushing through motions to open the way for new presidential elections.

Parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said only 216 deputies had registered at the beginning of the session and urged protesters to allow more parliamentarians to enter the building. There needs to be 226 deputies present to carry motions.

Tens of thousands of supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who says the authorities stole a Nov. 21 presidential election, were massed around the parliament building to push demands for a new vote.

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