Prime Minister Mykola Azarov takes oath of loyalty to Ukrainian peopl

Newly elected Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has taken an oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.

Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has closed a morning meeting of the parliament. The parliament's evening meeting will not be held on Thursday. A total of 233 MPs voted for such a decision. The parliament's next plenary meeting will take place at 1000 on March 12.

Azarov is appointed Prime Minister
At the proposal of President Viktor Yanukovych, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has appointed Mykola Azarov the Prime Minister.

This decision was passed by 242 votes. Earlier the candidacy of Azarov was backed by the newly set-up ruling coalition of 235 people's deputies. Azarov worked in two governments of Viktor Yanukovych as the first vice premier and finance minister.