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A
young woman waves an Ukrainian flag in support of opposition leader
Yushchenko (AFP)
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KIEV,
November 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Tens of
thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kiev Wednesday,
November 24, demanding that the results of the presidential election
be annulled because of fraud.
The
central election commission announced late Wednesday that pro-Russia
Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich emerged triumphant receiving 49.46
percent of the vote, compared to 46.61 percent for the West-leaning
opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, reported Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
More
than 100,000 people packed into the main Kiev square for the third day
of opposition protests, some holding orange flowers, the color of the
opposition, swaying in unison as rock music blared out, waving large
blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and orange flags of the opposition.
Thousands
of other opposition supporters gathered outside the presidential
compound, demanding the win of the opposition leader, with riot police
positioned outside the commission building.
“You're
Ukrainians like us, come over to our side,” shouted a young
Ukrainian.
New
Election
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Yushchenko
declaring himself president during an emergency parliament session
(AFP)
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Yushchenko
proposed Wednesday holding a new round of presidential elections to
resolve the current standoff.
“We
are ready to hold again the second round on condition that it is
conducted legitimately,” he told a crowd of demonstrators in central
Kiev.
Yushchenko
says the government helped steal the election from him by rigging the
vote and is demanding that the results either be annulled in disputed
regions or that new elections be held.
Protests
have flared up in Ukraine after Yushchenko declared himself president
during an emergency parliament session on Tuesday, November 23,
attended by his supporters and which failed to reach a quorum.
He
accused the election commission of rigging Sunday's presidential vote
in favor of his pro-Moscow rival.
The
opposition stresses that it has recorded thousands of voting
irregularities in Sunday's poll.
Incumbent
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma ruled out the use of force against
the marches.
European
Concerns
Reported
frauds are expected to have grave consequences on relations between
the European Union and Ukraine, unless there was a serious and
independent review of the results, said the new head of the European
Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
“We
consider there is a place in the European family for a democratic
Ukraine,” Barroso told the BBC.
“We
regret that the Ukrainian authorities have not taken the opportunity
to demonstrate their commitment to democracy.”
The
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urged the
Ukrainian authorities to investigate frauds reported in the Sunday’s
presidential vote.
“I
call on the authorities to investigate thoroughly, actively and timely
the confirmed irregularities,” the OSCE chairman, Bulgarian Foreign
Minister Solomon Passy, told AFP.
“These
have to be corrected within the period provided for by Ukrainian
law.”
OSCE
observers in Ukraine have said that Sunday's presidential election
fell short of European democratic standards and were demonstrated with
mass irregularities.
Russian
Support
Russia,
however, has taken a different position on the controversial Ukrainian
ballot as the Duma threw its weight behind Yanukovich, condemning the
sea of protestors.
The
Duma is “deeply concerned by the extremist actions of the radical
opposition of Ukraine, which can lead to tragic consequences,” the
parliament said in a statement.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin also denounced what he called bids to divide
Ukraine into two camps.
“The
use of bugbears from the past, painting one candidate red and the
other candidate into other colors are totally counterproductive,”
Putin said.
