Kiev, Ukraine ? Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said today that he is nominating his former Orange Revolution foe, Viktor Yanukovych, for prime minister, insisting the decision would help unite the divided nation but acknowledging it might cause confusion.

The decision puts an end to four months of political uncertainty sparked by parliamentary elections in which no party won a majority.

Yushchenko made the announcement in an early morning address, two hours after the constitutional deadline formally passed for him to decide on Yanukovych’s candidacy. He said the decision was made after Yanukovych agreed to sign a memorandum on national unity that preserves the president’s foreign and domestic policies.