KIEV, Dec. 11 ??“ Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko, two popular opposition leaders, met over the weekend for talks to see if they could join forces at the next general election.

Lutsenko, an ally of President Viktor Yushchenko, who was fired the pro-government coalition from the post of internal affairs minister two weeks ago. Lutsenko is expected to lead Our Ukraine, Yushchenko??™s party, a move that would help the party boost its sagging rating.