Ukraine MPs brawl for the second time in two days

A session of Ukraine's new parliament collapsed amid chaos today when brawls erupted among opposition deputies and those of the ruling party over the election of parliamentary officials - for the second time in as many days.

A massive brawl between MPs erupted with dozens involved in a fight, but leaving boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko, who was visiting the chamber, watching from the side.

On Wednesday opposition deputies paralysed the session by encircling the rostrum and sabotaged plans of the ruling coalition to ease Mykola Azarov into a second term as prime minister.

Today opposition deputies swarmed around the rostrum when a vote on the appointment of Vladimir Rybak, the Regions' candidate for speaker, was about to be announced, and clashed with a group of Regions deputies.