Supporters of opposition leader hailed the result that The parliament has passed a package of constitutional and electoral amendments earlier in the day to shifts more presidential powers to parliament in another move to satisfy the opposition and end the political impasse, Kiev, Dec. 08, 2004. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday adopted a new composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC)of 15 people following its dismissal of the body earlier in the day, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The legislature's vote to dismiss the old commission as part of a compromise between outgoing President Leonid Kuchma and the opposition was aimed at defusing the weeks-long political crisis triggered by the Nov. 21 presidential vote. A new central election commission was a key demand of the opposition headed by Viktor Yushchenko.

Former CEC head Sergei Kivalov failed to enter the new commission without getting enough parliamentary votes. The reshuffled commission sustains 11 former members and takes in fournew ones.

The CEC had declared pro-government Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych the winner of the Nov. 21 runoff election, however, the results were later annulled by the Supreme Court as the opposition claims that the commission is involved in massive fraud of the campaign in favor of Yanukovych.

The opposition hopes that a new CEC will reduce ballot-rigging in the Dec. 26 rerun of the presidential runoff and increase Yushchenko's opportunities to win.

The parliament has passed a package of constitutional and electoral amendments earlier in the day to shifts more presidential powers to parliament in another move to satisfy the opposition and end the political impasse. Enditem

Ukrainian parliament adopts constitutional, electoral reforms

KIEV, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday approved a reform package on election and constitution aimed at ending the nation's political crisis.

Under the package, adopted by a vote of 402-21, some changes will be made to the electoral law to avoid fraud in the Dec. 26 re-run of the presidential runoff and some constitutional changes will also be made to transfer some president's powers to the parliament.

"Over the past 100 years, Ukraine has more than once suffered through a crisis, but there was always enough common sense to finda way out and a decision," Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said while signing the measure in the chamber.

Supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko had pressed for electoral changes but they had opposed the constitutional changes, which would weaken the power of a president.

In another development on Wednesday, the parliament agreed to dissolve the Central Election Commission and replace it with a newcommission.

Lawmakers are now voting on who will be on the new commission but it is likely that the vast majority of the members would retain their seats.

Ukraine has been bogged down in a political crisis since Nov. 21 when the presidential run-off handed victory to Prime Minister Yanukovich and sparked opposition accusations of vote rigging and protests.