Ukraine's pro-West "orange revolution" choreographer, Oleksandr Zinchenko, resigned as President Viktor Yushchenko's chief-of-staff on Saturday.

Yushchenko said later that he had accepted Zinchenko's resignation, which Zinchenko announced in a terse two-paragraph statement without explanation.

Yushchenko admitted that he had "a difficult talk" with Zinchenko days before his departure.

Previously, the president held similar talks with other officials such as Justice Minister Roman Zvarych after they announced plans to resign. He eventually managed to persuade them from quitting.

Zinchenko masterminded Yushchenko's presidential campaign and became his close aide after he took power in January.

Source: Xinhua