New Rallies Planned In Ukraine, Deadlock Continues

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine's rival political factions on Sunday geared up for big street rallies this week as the former Soviet state remained mired in political deadlock over the president's dissolution of parliament.

Several hundreds Easter cakes lay on a stage erected by supporters of Ukraine's defiant premier on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, April 8, 2007, waiting to be blessed by Orthodox Christian priests.
Pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, at odds for months with parliament and his prime minister, last week issued a decree dissolving the legislature and calling a May election.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, defeated and humiliated by the president after "Orange Revolution" mass protests in 2004, has challenged the decree in the Constitutional Court and refuses to take part in the new poll.

A top member of Yanukovich's Regions Party predicted tens of thousands would gather for a rally on Monday, a public holiday.

"Orange" supporters of the president's decree, led by fiery ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, are to gather on Tuesday.

Yushchenko used Easter celebrations, a major event in mainly Orthodox Ukraine, to stress he would uphold order.

"My decision is both constitutional and legitimate. There will be no turning back," Yushchenko said just before midnight outside the 11th century St Sofia Cathedral, an Orthodox shrine.

"Nor will there be confrontation or insecurity in our country. I guarantee that. The security forces are carrying out the president's orders. The new election will be free and fair."

Yanukovich, friendlier towards Moscow, attended services in Donetsk, his stronghold in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine. His Easter message assured Ukrainians that "our country's political crisis will be resolved through democracy and the rule of law."

His supporters in Kiev handed out "paskha" Easter cakes in Independence Square, focal point of the 2004 upheavals. There were few takers as most Ukrainians spent the holiday at home.

RESOLVE

Yanukovich's backers have sought to recreate the atmosphere of the 2004 protests which engulfed Ukraine, vowing to remain in scruffy tent camps until the president rescinds his decision.

But the numbers have so far been small and demonstrators' resolve less than apparent. Tymoshenko, sacked by the president in 2005 after eight months in office, has drawn the largest crowd -- tens of thousands late last month to urge Yushchenko to order a new election.

A backer of European Union and NATO membership, Yushchenko's powers have been cut by constitutional change and his popularity has sunk as supporters accused him of vacillation.

Yanukovich staged a remarkable comeback in Ukraine's last parliamentary election -- barely a year ago -- when his party took first place.

He was appointed prime minister after "orange" parties failed to put together a government and initially agreed to uphold the president's pro-Western policies. But he has since continuously chipped away at Yushchenko's authority.

Some Ukrainian commentators suggest time is needed before politicians can be persuaded to compromise.

"The fierce battle for power is made worse by a post-Soviet 'winner take all' syndrome which not a single leader involved has chosen to shed," wrote the weekly Zerkalo Nedeli.

Source: Washington Post