Ukraine PM choice rejected

Ukraine's Parliament rejected President Viktor Yushchenko's choice for Prime Minister in a stinging defeat for the country's leader less than two weeks after he sacked his Orange Revolution team amid an escalating corruption scandal.

Ukraine's chief prosecutor, meanwhile, cleared two of the President's aides of corruption, but said an investigation into abuse of power continued against one of Yushchenko's closest allies, Petro Poroshenko.

Acting Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov will remain caretaker Prime Minister while negotiations continue.