World News 29-11-2004 Eastern Ukraine Threatens Split who: Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych what: Calls on pro-Russian followers to keep protests peaceful where: Ukraine when: Yesterday snippet: "Political tensions in Ukraine are increasing as the country`s Supreme Court prepares to consider claims of fraud in recent presidential elections," says the BBC. "On Monday the court hears opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko`s appeal against the poll`s official result." "As Ukraine seethed anew with mass street rallies by supporters from both camps, [outgoing president] Kuchma reported very little progress behind the scenes to work out a compromise," says The Scotsman. "Passions rose after parliament, in a symbolic vote on Saturday, declared the election invalid, noting widespread fraud in the vote." Meanwhile, The Independent says "regional leaders in the Russophile east of the country said they would rather form a new state than be governed by the pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the so-called `Orange Revolution`." The prime minister and president-elect called on his supporters in Severodonetsk to keep the peace. "I am pleading to you not to take any radical measures," says Viktor Yanukovich, quoted in The Guardian. "If only one drop of blood is shed, we won`t be able to stop the flow. It will remain on the consciences of the people who provoked the situation." [... more]

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