Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko has announced that she will stand in presidential elections in 2010, BBC reported.

In a statement broadcast live on national TV, Ms Tymoshenko said she would win, adding that the government would be "strong and not venal".

The prime minister was one of the leaders of the 2004 Orange Revolution, but her alliance with current President Viktor Yushchenko has become a rivalry.

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Scandals have left Ukraine without foreign, defence and finance ministers.

Defence Minister Yuri Yekhanurov, seen as an ally of Mr Yushchenko, was sacked by MPs on Friday in a motion put forward by Ms Tymoshenko`s allies.

Mr Yushchenko has been critical of plans by Ms Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych in order to amend the constitution to abolish direct presidential elections.

The president has already said he will stand again in the January elections.

Correspondents say his rivalry with Ms Tymoshenko has paralysed the workings of government.

Earlier, on Sunday, Ukraine`s main opposition party backed out of creating a coalition with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko`s bloc, leaving unresolved a tense political situation that has crippled the country for years.