Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko announced on Friday that an opposition bloc in parliament has been formed with two defectors from the Socialist Party.

At a meeting on Friday, Tymoshenko was elected as the head of the new bloc.

Five parties shared the 450 parliamentary seats in the general elections held on March 26, 2006.

In August, the majority coalition comprising parliament members from the Regions Party, the Socialist Party and the Communists nominated Viktor Yanukovych as prime minister.

Ukrainian President accepted the nomination and Viktor Yushchenko subsequently formed his cabinet.

The opposition bloc now has 123 seats in the 450-seat parliament.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)