World News 23-11-2004 Ukraine On Brink Of Revolt who: President Viktor Yushchenko what: Calls supporters to mass rally after PM is named election winner where: Kiev when: Yesterday snippet: "Ukraine`s bitter presidential run-off vote was poised last night to tip over into civil unrest," says The Guardian, "when four cities dismissed the victory claimed by the prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich, and hailed the opposition candidate, Viktor Yuschenko, as their new president." "The opposition and western election monitors accused the government of dirty tricks before and massive fraud during the poll to tip the victory to Mr Yanukovych by 3 per cent," reports Askold Krushelnycky for The Independent. "In many polling stations where Mr Yanukovych gained most votes, more than 100 per cent of voters apparently turned out." "EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels reacted with outrage to reports of irregularities in the election, which they said failed to meet international standards," reports The Financial Times. "But EU criticism of the polling process, strongly echoed in Washington, was at odds with the swift and unambiguous congratulations proffered to Viktor Yanukovich by Vladimir Putin, Russian president." "Mr Yushchenko claims he was poisoned during the campaign," says the ITV news website. "He had to take a month off campaigning to recover and his face remains puffy and disfigured." But he is not yet ready to accept defeat. "Remain where you are," he told his supporters in central Kiev last night. "From all parts of Ukraine, on carts, cars, planes and trains tens of thousands of people are on their way here. Our action is only beginning." [... more]

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