The 450-member assembly to drop the ongoing internal battles on the Ukrainian parliament Feb. 9, 2006 (Xinhua photo)

 KIEV, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday called on the Ukrainian parliament in his annual address to the 450-member assembly to drop the ongoing internal battles and unite in the interests of the country.

    "Enough with arguing over who has more power," Yushchenko said in his address to parliament, which last month voted to fire his Cabinet.

    Ukraine is to elect its new parliament in March 26's legislative elections, but the president risks losing influence in the race, as opinion polls suggest that Yushchenko's party is poised to lag behind the party led by his pro-Russian rival Viktor Yanukovych.

    But with no single party expected to capture a majority, the country might end up with a coalition government.

    Yushchenko had pledged to continue government reforms and planned to hold a referendum to alter constitutional changes that came into force this year.

    By giving the parliamentary majority the authority to name the prime minister and some members of the Cabinet, the reforms greatly increase parliamentary powers at the expense of the presidency. Enditem