Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, won a crucial vote in parliament on Thursday, confirming his moderate ally Yuri Yekhanurov as prime minister and resolving the political crisis that had rocked his country for the past three weeks.

Almost two-thirds of parliament supported Mr Yekhanurov, just two days after an initial vote on his nomination failed. The successful re-vote cleared the way for Mr Yushchenko and the new prime minister to form a cabinet with no additional confirmation hearings.