Tuesday

Ukraine protestors breach parliamentary security

The Ukraine's parliamentary speaker has appealed to supporters of Viktor Yushchenko not to storm the parliament after protesters broke through security.

The call comes after protestors broke through a fence surrounding the Ukraine's parliament, after the chamber failed to debate a no confidence vote in the government.

Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Parliamentary speaker, said: "I appeal to protesters. Don't storm parliament. It is the last pillar of democracy. Tomorrow we will make a decision that will satisfy all of Ukraine."

A senior member of Ukraine's opposition told protesters to continue their blockade of official buildings except for parliament "to give it a chance".

Mykola Tomenko said: "We are imposing no blockade on parliament to give it a chance to make a decision."

Another opposition figure, Socialist Yuri Lutsenko, told demonstrators to return to Kiev's main square.

Ukraine's parliament is meeting to discuss how to resolve a week-long stalemate over disputed presidential elections.

A new election appeared increasingly likely after outgoing president Leonid Kuchma backed the move yesterday.

He told regional leaders: "If we really want to preserve peace and consensus and build this just democratic society, of which we speak so much but have failed to carry out in a legal way, let us have new elections."

The Supreme Court has already put a freeze on the election result, in effect preventing the inauguration of the official winner Viktor Yanukovich.

The west-leaning opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko alleges mass fraud and is demanding a re-run of the December 21 ballot.

Supporters of both parties have taken to the streets for more than a week, with the threat of civil unrest and economic downturn.

Some eastern regions, near the Russian border, are threatening to break-away and form separate republics if Mr Yushchenko is declared the winner.

The United States and the EU have both criticised the conduct of the poll, while Russia has backed Mr Yanukovich.

The Supreme Court of more than 20 judges began sitting on Monday to hear Mr Yanukovich's case. It gave his team and Election Commission officials more time to examine documents.

The opposition also hopes to use the parliamentary session on Tuesday to press for the resignation of Yanukovich's government and the general prosecutor.

A parliamentary session last Saturday changed the tone of the national debate by approving a symbolic resolution invalidating the election even though it has no such authority.

© Telegraph Group Limited 2004

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