The opposition wanted to press Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to approve the no-confidence motion passed on Wednesday by the parliament to dismiss the government head by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, according to Ukrinform.

On Wednesday, the parliament, or the Supreme Council, passed the no-confidence motion on Yanukovich's government with a vote of229 out of the 450 lawmakers, the motion needs the approval of Kuchma before it takes effect.

Thanks to the efforts of international mediators, Yanukovich and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko came back to the negotiation table on Wednesday and reached compromise to set up anexpert team to end the election runoff.

On Thursday morning, the opposition ended the blockage at the presidential and parliamentary buildings, but a loosened human chain still blocked the entrances of the governmental buildings.

Yushchenko said on Thursday he was adhering to a revote for thesecond round of presidential elections, but would not participate in talks on an entire new presidential election, which Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma formally proposed on Wednesday.

Kuchma paid a short working visit to Moscow on Thursday and metwith Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders said they favor an entire new election instead of a revote for the second round of election.

However, Kuchma's son-in-law Viktor Pinchyk told New York Timeson Thursday that Kuchma was ready to reach compromise with Yushchenko, but he did not give details about what compromise the president might offer.

Thursday night, rallies held at the Independence Square still attracted tens of thousands of opposition supporters, who chanted "Yushchenko" again and again.

Sources from the Ukrainian foreign ministry said over 1,700 foreign journalists had so far registered for covering the event after the standoff started on Nov. 21.