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
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