Ukraine's Opposition Calls Non-Stop Rally For Polls

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine's opposition urged supporters on Wednesday to stage a non-stop rally akin to the 2004 "Orange Revolution" to press for a parliamentary election, deepening a crisis that has engulfed the country.

Riot police stand guard at the entrance to Ukraine's Constitutional Court as political opponents hold two simultaneous rallies near the building in Kiev, April 18, 2007.
Embattled pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, long at odds with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich over Ukraine's future direction, has dissolved the assembly and ordered a snap election for May 27.

Yanukovich and his allies, who are closer to Moscow, reject the president's decree and have asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether Yushchenko acted lawfully.

Both leaders, rivals since the "orange" protests swept Yushchenko to power, have pledged to abide by any decision by the Court and suggest they may compromise on an election date.

But the opposition, led by fiery former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, again accused the Court of political bias.

Tymoshenko, who lobbied hardest for a new election, called on supporters to pour into the streets on Friday and demand an election without a court ruling.

"Today we decided to ask all citizens, all patriots who believe that criminals, mafia or clans should not rule today's Ukraine... to gather by 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday and hold our maidan," Tymoshenko told a news conference. She was referring to Independence Square, focal point of the 2004 upheavals.

"It must be held until the start of legitimate, free and honest elections ... which will put an end to any notion of using cash to buy Ukrainian politics."

Tymoshenko roused crowds alongside Yushchenko in 2004 and was first prime minister for eight months before being sacked. She long pressed him for a new election, but has been more radical in rejecting a role for the Constitutional Court.

SCUFFLES OUTSIDE THE COURT

Earlier on Wednesday, riot police pushed aside protesters outside the Constitutional Court, letting judges inside to press on for a second day with an assessment of Yushchenko's decree.

The sitting got under way after about an hour's delay, with 16 of the 18 judges present.

"Today they (the court) have nothing to do with justice. They are involved in a farce called 'the seizure of power by Yanukovich's clan'," Tymoshenko said.

The president dissolved the assembly after accusing Yanukovich, named prime minister after parliamentary elections barely a year ago, of illegally enticing his supporters to join the coalition backing the government.

The president and prime minister took their arguments to Western Europe on Tuesday, Yushchenko visiting European Union's headquarters in Brussels and Yanukovich addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Both men vowed to solve the crisis by democratic means. European institutions say they will take no sides.

European Union heavyweight France appealed to Yushchenko and Yanukovich loyalists on Wednesday "to show restraint and let the democratic institutions do their work safely".

French foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei called for dialogue "to find a rapid solution to this crisis, in the interest of the stability and democracy in Ukraine".

Yanukovich told a government meeting he still saw a chance of a compromise solution. But he also asked the prosecutor general to look into attempts to block the Constitutional Court.

Source: Reuters