Kiev - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) could soon give Ukraine an emergency loan worth as much as 14 billion dollars, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Thursday.

The stabilization credit for the former Soviet republic was already under active consideration by IMF leadership, and would be aimed at calming Ukraine's currently woeful stock and commodities markets.

"We have information from the IMF ... that they are prepared to provide the money," Tymoshenko said at a press conference in Kiev.

Kiev- Troopers from an elite Ukrainian anti-terrorist unit had to use force Tuesday to clear protesting lawmakers from the National Election Commission building.

It was the first outbreak of violence in Ukraine's latest constitutional crisis, begun last week after President Viktor Yushchenko ordered parliament dissolved.

A reported ten MPs supporting Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a Yushchenko opponent, were inside the building in central Kiev at the time of the police assault.

Kiev- Political battle lines hardened Saturday in Ukraine over an early election called by President Viktor Yushchenko.

Members of the party loyal to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko blockaded offices of the election board in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, reported the Interfax news agency. The protesting politicians called Yushchenko's planned election unconstitutional.

Yushchenko dissolved parliament Wednesday in the wake of the collapse of the governing coalition of his and Tymoshenko's parties last month. The new election was called for December 7.

Kiev - Ukraine's government on Friday ordered the stock market to stay closed, stopping shares trading by state instruction for the third time this week.

Management of the nation-leading PFTS stock exchange said it might allow shares trading later in the day, depending on the situation in both domestic and international markets.

The announcement came after a full day of trading on Thursday, during which stocks listed on the PFTS sank on average some 14 per cent in value.

The Ukrainian government halted trading on Wednesday and Monday as well in an a so-far unsuccessful attempt to slow panic sweeping the market, as Ukrainian shares have been dragged down by bad news in the US, Europe, and Asia.