Ukrainian speaker elected amid brawls
Ukraine’s newly elected parliament has chosen a pro-government speaker amid violent brawls between supporters of the president and opposition politicians.
The Party of Regions led by President Viktor Yanukovych secured a slim majority in the Verkhovna Rada following an October election condemned as unfair by the West.
But three opposition parties made a strong showing and vowed to challenge Mr Yanukovych’s grip on power.
Some took that literally. For the second day of the new parliament’s work, fists flew.
Opposition politicians and pro-government legislators wrestled with each other and some deputies were knocked over in the melee.
After a break, Yanukovych ally Volodymyr Rybak was elected as speaker.
