One of the leaders of Ukraine's Orange Revolution, Yulia Tymoshenko, has failed by one vote to return to the post of prime minister.
Ms. Tymoshenko received 225 votes Tuesday from deputies in parliament after two rounds of voting in the 450-seat assembly, Rada. That is one vote short of the absolute majority needed.
Her supporters immediately blamed faulty electronic voting equipment for the narrow loss, and parliament went into recess.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko nominated Ms. Tymoshenko for the prime minister post last week, after the two agreed to re-form an alliance.
Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. Tymoshenko were political allies in Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" - the mass protests against what was ruled a fraudulent presidential election in 2004. Mr. Yushchenko won the re-vote and named Ms. Tymoshenko prime minister, but he later fired her.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
