|
| quote: | Originally posted by Michael19
the american election was very divided aswell, but the o****ry was never ever gonna split in 2 over it. Cant see that happening in the Ukraine either |
The United States also didn't have wide-spread protests aimed at shutting down the government, or a governing body that declared the results of the elction null. At this point, and as said before, I thinking we're all grossly underestimating the serverity of the situation.
| quote: | Threat of east-west split looms in Ukraine
By Stefan Wagstyl in Kiev and Tom Warner in Donetsk
Published: November 28 2004 15:14 | Last updated: November 28 2004 21:02
Regional leaders in eastern Ukraine on Sunday raised the stakes in the bitter dispute over the presidential election by threatening to seek autonomy if prime minister Viktor Yanukovich was denied victory.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, who has been mediating in the dispute, warned of a “realistic risk” of an east-west split in Ukraine, particularly in a clear reference to Russia if it were supported by outside forces. Mr Yanukovich, who is backed by Moscow, visited his strongholds in eastern Ukraine, where regional political leaders meeting in Luhansk called for a referendum on December 12 to establish an autonomous region.
The leaders' vote, which has no legal force, highlighted widespread anger in the east at opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko's success in mobilising other central and western regions, including Kiev.
Mr Yushchenko, supported by the US and the European Union, has rejected Mr Yanukovich's election victory, saying the vote was rigged.
Mr Yanukovich told Reuters he did not support a referendum on autonomy.
He urged protesters to avoid violence: “I say that today we are on the brink of catastrophe. There is one step to the edge . . .Do not take any radical steps. . . When the first drop of blood is spilled, we will not be able to stop it.”
The Supreme Court is expected on Monday to consider the appeal by Mr Yushchenko to declare the vote fraudulent and invalid, in a move which his supporters hope could pave the way for new elections next month. The rival camps made little progress over the weekend in talks aimed at resolving the political crisis, let alone in setting conditions for new elections. Mr Yanukovich's supporters insisted he was the election winner, while Mr Yushchenko demanded the resignation of Mr Yanukovich, cabinet ministers and officials allegedly involved in election fraud.
Mr Yushchenko urged his followers to maintain the protests that have involved hundreds of thousands of people across the country, including Kiev, where he has ignored demands from President Leonid Kuchma to lift a blockade of official buildings.
Mr Kuchma on Sunday responded with a veiled threat to deploy the security forces. Echoing the words last week of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who has openly backed Mr Yanukovich, he warned that blockades were inadmissible in any state and that democratic governments had learnt how to respond firmly in such situations. Roman Zvarych, an aide to Mr Yushchenko, said supporters had asked the security services to investigate rumours Russian troops had arrived in Ukraine.
In a sign that he might be open to compromise, Mr Kuchma said he welcomed Saturday's meeting of parliament, where deputies declared the elections invalid. The vote has no legal force, but sends a strong political signal.
|
|
