Ukraine's president has been prevented from making his annual address to parliament by his own allies.

Viktor Yushchenko could not reach the podium, blocked by MPs loyal to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

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Tensions between the two "Orange Revolution" allies are rising ahead of next year's presidential election. They are seen as potential rivals.

Opinion polls put Ms Tymoshenko well ahead of Mr Yushchenko, but analysts say that the in-fighting between the two could play into the hands of the former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych.

Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko led the 2004 pro-democracy street protests - dubbed the Orange Revolution - that swept them both to power.

The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in 2005, but their government was brought down by disagreements.

They forged a new alliance for the September 2007 election and won enough combined votes to defeat Mr Yanukovych's party.

(BBC)

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