U.s. urges nonviolent resolution after ukraine's president dissolves parliament

Published in AP

The U.S. government is closely monitoring Ukraine's political situation and pushing for a peaceful resolution after President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved the country's parliament.

The parliament ignored Yushchenko's order and vowed to continue meeting. The deadlock follows months of maneuvering by Yushchenko and his rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and signals the possible return of competing protests, tent camps and political rallies to the streets of Kiev.

"The United States calls on all Ukrainian political leaders to take full responsibility for their supporters' actions and to maintain calm," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday.

McCormack said the United States is urging "all parties to respect the rule of law and resolve disputes nonviolently, in a manner consistent with Ukraine's democratic values and national interests."