Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
Independence Square of Kiev sees first silent night
30/11/2004 17:44

No slogans of "Yushchenko" were heard from Monday midnight to early Tuesday morning at the Independence Square of Kiev, making local residents enjoy the first silent night since the election standoff emerged on Nov. 21.
Starting from late Monday night, snowfall was dominating the sky of Kiev, making the square, the hub for the protests of the opposition camp, all the more tough for supporters of Viktor Yushchenko.
As news was reported that both Ukraine President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich on Monday evening agreed to the idea of organizing a completely new presidential election, demonstrators started to leave the square late Monday night and nearby bus stops saw long lines.
Assistants of a hotel near the square told Xinhua that this is the first silent night in nine days after the opposition camp took to the streets.
At around 7:40 local time on Tuesday, however, first shouting of "Yushchenko" was heard again.
Seen through the window of a hotel facing the Independence Square, some opposition supporters were walking to the square, signaling the continuation of demonstrations as the election stalemate dragged on into its 9th day.
The Ukrainian national congress, the Supreme Council, is expected to convene an emergency session late Tuesday morning to discuss the standoff.
Yushchenko said on Monday his camp would table a draft resolution, demanding the downfall of Yanukovich's government.
Congress chief Vladimir Litvin acknowledged on Monday that " there is the possibility" to discuss the issue of dismissing Yanukovich's government at the meeting.
Hearings on the appeal of election frauds filed by the opposition are expected to continue at the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Both camps said on Monday the hearings would definitely last "several weeks".

 



 Xinhua