Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko to end hunger strike Published duration 8 May 2012

image copyright AFP image caption Yulia Tymoshenko accused prison guards of beating her in March

Ukraine's jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko will end her 19-day hunger strike, says her daughter.

Yevgenia Tymoshenko said her mother would be moved to hospital on Wednesday to be treated by a German doctor.

She went on hunger strike accusing prison guards of beating her during an earlier attempt to move her to hospital for treatment for back pain.

Earlier Ukraine postponed a European summit after several leaders announced a boycott over the issue.

The summit was due to be held in in Yalta on 11-12 May, but the presidents of Germany, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic were among those who cancelled their trips.

There is also a threat that leaders may boycott Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine next month.

Bruises

Yulia Tymoshenko is currently in prison in the eastern city of Kharkiv and is refusing to be treated by Ukrainian doctors for her back condition.

She has now agreed to be treated by a German doctor, Lutz Harms, in a local hospital.

Her daughter said the politician "appears to have lost 10kg (22lbs), her temperature has dropped significantly and she may pass out any minute now".

Yulia Tymoshenko's supporters released photographs showing bruises on her body, but prison guards denied allegations that they were responsible.

Yulia Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years in October for abusing her power while she was prime minister.

She is a long-time rival of President Victor Yanukovych whom she helped oust from power in Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution.