Ukrainian opposition has put forward new demands to President Leonid
Kuchma as a condition for settling the country's ongoing election crisis.
The Our Ukraine parliamentary faction -- the leading opposition faction in
Ukraine -- has demanded the dismissal of the interior minister, the prosecutor
general, and the heads of the regional administrations in Donetsk, Luhansk,
Kharkiv, Transcarpathian and Sumy where alleged vote-rigging took place, as well
as the dismissal of the government and the Central Elections Commission.
Faction member Viktor Pynzenyk said Monday that the faction has demanded the
formation of an interim government. Our Ukraine will support a consolidated vote
on changes in the election law and the constitution only if this is done, he
said in remarks reported by the Interfax news agency.
The opposition has been blocking government buildings since the second round
of presidential elections on Nov. 21. The opposition on Sunday intensified
pressure for a quick passage of anti-fraud legislature to ensure a fair re-run
of the presidential poll. Apart from electoral changes, the opposition also
insists that Kuchma sack the government and replace members of the elections
commission.
Ukrainian Parliament Speaking Vladimir Litvin said the president was ready to
come to parliament and sign the amended laws on political reforms and
presidential elections.
Earlier Monday, Kuchma also made known his consent to dismissing the
government and rotating the members of the Central Electoral Commission.
The president said, however, he could do it only after the opposition lifted
the blockade of government buildings. Ukraine has been in a political crisis
since the Nov. 21 presidential election, victory in which has been claimed by
both pro-Moscow candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, and pro-Western
candidate, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.
The United States and the European Union have backed Ukraine's opposition and
have refused to recognize the election result as legal.
The Ukrainian congress voted to pass a resolution on Nov. 27, announcing that
the second round of the fourth Ukraine presidential election is of no legal
effect.
Ukraine appears to be headed toward holding a new election after the Supreme
Court rules on the fraud accusations.
