**Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s party has formed a coalition that can now nominate a government, the parliament speaker says.**The coalition has named ex-finance minister Mykola Azarov as prime minister, an alliance member said.
Mr Yanukovych had been trying to pull together a loyal coalition after winning presidential polls last month.
He has faced resistance from outgoing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Speaker Volodymyr Litvyn said on Thursday that an agreement had been signed by 235 deputies from the Regions Party, the Communist Party, and the Litvyn bloc.
Mr Yanukovych’s Regions Party had struck an alliance with two minority parties on Wednesday, leaving it just short of the 226 deputies needed for a majority.
Earlier this week the parliament approved an amendment making it easier for parties to form coalitions by allowing them to recruit individual deputies rather than just parliamentary blocs.