KIEV, Feb. 7 ??“ Ukraine was heading for a political standoff on Wednesday as the pro-Russian government coalition had been working on a foreign policy bill that would challenge pro-Western course of President Viktor Yushchenko.

Also, the coalition indicated on Wednesday that it would probably reject Yushchenko??™s nomination of Volodymyr Ohryzko, a pro-Western diplomat, as the foreign minister.

The developments suggest that the constitutional crisis has been looming large in Ukraine amid the government??™s attempts to change the country??™s foreign policy course towards greater cooperation with Russia.

Viktor Baloha, the chief of staff at the Yushchenko office, said the coalition??™s refusal to back the nomination of Ohryzko would lead to serious consequences.

???In case of misunderstanding during the appointments, especially during the appointment of the foreign minister, this would be the next confrontation,??? Baloha said.

Meanwhile, the coalition indicated on Wednesday that the nomination of Ohryzko and Viktor Korol, a Yushchenko loyalist, as the head of the security service SBU must be returned to the president.

???The president submitted the nominations with violations, in particular there were no income declarations for the nominees,??? Ivan Bokiy, the leader of the Socialist group in Parliament, said. ???The nomination must be resubmitted.???

The comments suggest that debate of the nominations may be postponed or rejected by the coalition. The debate was tentatively scheduled on Thursday.

The coalition??™s complaints over the nominations come as the government has been completing the bill aimed at defining Ukraine??™s foreign policy.

The bill, which was presented to Yanukovych on Wednesday, apparently does not contain a clause that calls for Ukraine??™s accession to NATO, the cornerstone of Ukraine??™s foreign policy over the past two years.

???There is a clause in the bill that allows Ukraine to solve issues over participation in military alliances after national referendums,??? Bokiy said.

The bill was drafted by a government team led by Economy Minister Volodymyr Makukha.

Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych said the bill be submitted to Parliament before the end of the week. (tl/ez)