Ukraine parliament lifts presidential veto on election law

The Supreme Rada passed the new election law in July, but Yushchenko vetoed it on Wednesday, saying it violated the constitution.

A total of 325 lawmakers voted to reject the veto, with 300 votes needed.

The Yushchenko administration said earlier the new law had complicated control over voting, and offered more loopholes for flaws. The law no longer allows for casting ballots from home for certain individuals, and gives only a few days to appeal in court against election results.

Yushchenko vetoed most changes to the legislation, but approved a cut in the campaign period from 120 to 90 days.

The ex-Soviet state, long engulfed in a political crisis and hard hit by the global economic slump, is due to hold presidential elections in early January.