Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has resubmitted to parliament the names of his candidates for foreign minister and security chief, just days after lawmakers rejected the two nominations.

Parliament last Thursday rejected the nominations of career diplomat as foreign minister and Viktor Korol to head the country's Security Service.

Last week's defeats were the latest in a series of political setbacks for the reformist president from a parliament dominated by backers of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.  He is a Yushchenko rival who favors closer ties with Russia.

Ukraine's parliament passed a law last month that requires legislators to approve foreign minister nominees.  President Yushchenko criticized the legislation and is challenging its constitutionality in court.

Mr. Yushchenko came to power on a wave of public support, after mass protests in 2004 against a rigged presidential election in which Mr. Yanukovych's claimed victory forced a new vote.  The president emerged the winner, but has since lost public support.