World bank says political crisis threatens Ukraine reform drive - official

A man drinks coffee and smokes as he stands near a currency exchange office in Kiev, Ukraine March 31, 2016. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KIEV (Reuters) - A political crisis in Ukraine threatens to derail a Western-backed reform drive and thwart attempts to pull its conflict-hit economy out of a two-year recession, the World Bank's country director for Ukrainesaid on Friday.

Lawmakers are under pressure to form a new coalition to end a deadlock that threatens snap parliamentary elections and has delayed disbursement of $1.7 billion (£1.19 billion) from the International Monetary Fund and other foreign loans.