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PM supporters throng Kiev streets | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Thousands of protesters have staged fresh demonstrations in Ukraine over the political crisis which is dividing the country. | |
PM Viktor Yanukovych has told the cabinet not to prepare for a snap election called by the president until a ruling by the constitutional court. | |
Mr Yanukovych's supporters held protests in the capital Kiev and in his eastern power base of Donetsk. | |
President Viktor Yushchenko's office says poll preparations are going ahead. | President Viktor Yushchenko's office says poll preparations are going ahead. |
Opponents of the president are continuing to come out onto the streets, says the BBC's Helen Fawkes, in Kiev. | |
Surrounded | |
Supporters of the prime minister were joined by the Communist and Socialist parties for a large rally in Kiev's main Independence Square, our correspondent says. | |
Some marched to the president's office and surrounded the building. | |
Supporters of Mr Yushchenko, numbering a few hundred, had also gathered at the scene but there have been no signs of violence. | |
Parliament, where the prime minister has a majority, continued to sit in defiance of Mr Yushchenko's decree on Monday to dissolve the assembly. | |
The prime minister's supporters have urged the constitutional court to rule on whether or not the president had the right to dissolve parliament. | The prime minister's supporters have urged the constitutional court to rule on whether or not the president had the right to dissolve parliament. |
The pro-Western Mr Yushchenko accuses his pro-Russia rival of trying to usurp power by increasing his parliamentary majority in an unconstitutional manner. | The pro-Western Mr Yushchenko accuses his pro-Russia rival of trying to usurp power by increasing his parliamentary majority in an unconstitutional manner. |
Failed meeting | Failed meeting |
The pair met on Tuesday in Mr Yanukovych's office, but Mr Yushchenko failed to gain his agreement to implement the decree, which orders an early poll on 27 May. | The pair met on Tuesday in Mr Yanukovych's office, but Mr Yushchenko failed to gain his agreement to implement the decree, which orders an early poll on 27 May. |
Ukraine reaction to the snap election called by the presidentIn pictures | Ukraine reaction to the snap election called by the presidentIn pictures |
The political stand-off has echoes of the 2004 Orange Revolution which swept Mr Yushchenko to power, although so far fewer protesters have taken to the streets. | The political stand-off has echoes of the 2004 Orange Revolution which swept Mr Yushchenko to power, although so far fewer protesters have taken to the streets. |
On Tuesday, Mr Yanukovych told supporters massed outside parliament that he would try to force a presidential election if Mr Yushchenko persisted with plans for a snap parliamentary poll. | On Tuesday, Mr Yanukovych told supporters massed outside parliament that he would try to force a presidential election if Mr Yushchenko persisted with plans for a snap parliamentary poll. |
"He should understand that the only way out is looking for a compromise at the negotiating table," he said. | "He should understand that the only way out is looking for a compromise at the negotiating table," he said. |
MPs' switch | MPs' switch |
Mr Yushchenko accuses Mr Yanukovych of trying to usurp his power by illegally luring pro-Western lawmakers over to his coalition to increase his parliamentary majority. | Mr Yushchenko accuses Mr Yanukovych of trying to usurp his power by illegally luring pro-Western lawmakers over to his coalition to increase his parliamentary majority. |
Under the constitution, only factions - not individuals - can change sides. But last month 11 lawmakers allied with Mr Yushchenko switched sides. | Under the constitution, only factions - not individuals - can change sides. But last month 11 lawmakers allied with Mr Yushchenko switched sides. |
HAVE YOUR SAY Yushchenko should have resigned than follow the path he has taken CC, Kiev Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Yushchenko should have resigned than follow the path he has taken CC, Kiev Send us your comments |
If Mr Yanukovych gains 300 deputies in the 450-seat house, he will have the power to overturn presidential vetoes and oversee new constitutional change. | If Mr Yanukovych gains 300 deputies in the 450-seat house, he will have the power to overturn presidential vetoes and oversee new constitutional change. |
Mr Yushchenko became president in January 2005, following the pro-democracy Orange Revolution which overturned a rigged victory for Mr Yanukovych. | Mr Yushchenko became president in January 2005, following the pro-democracy Orange Revolution which overturned a rigged victory for Mr Yanukovych. |
But Mr Yushchenko was forced to accept his rival as prime minister after his allies failed to win a majority in the March 2006 parliamentary election, and the two men have repeatedly clashed. | But Mr Yushchenko was forced to accept his rival as prime minister after his allies failed to win a majority in the March 2006 parliamentary election, and the two men have repeatedly clashed. |
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