Ukraine compromise talks collapse

Supporters of Ukraine's opposition leader Mr Viktor Yushchenko have broken off compromise talks with Prime Minister Mr Viktor…

Supporters of Ukraine's opposition leader Mr Viktor Yushchenko have broken off compromise talks with Prime Minister Mr Viktor Yanukovych, who was declared winner of the presidential election, according to reports.

Mr Yushchenko's campaign chief Mr Oleksandr Zinchenko accused authorities of trying to drag out the talks.

Meanwhile, mediators from the European Union, Poland, Lithuania and Russia are due to fly in for talks on ending Ukraine's election crisis tomorrow, outgoing President Leonid Kuchma's spokeswoman said this evening.

A supporter of Moscow-backed Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich shows a victory sign in front of Yanukovich's portraits in Donetsk today.
A supporter of Moscow-backed Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich shows a victory sign in front of Yanukovich's portraits in Donetsk today.

EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana, Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Mr Boris Gryzlov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, took part in talks with two presidential rivals last week.

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Earlier today supporters of Mr Yushchenko have broken through a fence surrounding Ukraine 's parliament and have massed around its main door following a failure by the chamber to debate a no confidence vote in the government.

A top Ukrainian opposition leader said if parliament failed to use its last opportunity to dismiss the government, political means would be exhausted and "resistance" would begin."I am not authorised to say what we will do if (parliament) fails, God help us, to take this decision," Mr Mykola Tomenko told crowds of Yushchenko supporters in Kiev's Independence Square.

"If the decisions are not forthcoming, the authorities will see those actions which the people want. We understand full well that the potential for political means is being exhausted. When this potential comes to an end we will act within the framework of a civil resistance."

Parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said: "I appeal to protesters. Don't storm parliament. It is the last pillar of democracy. Tomorrow we will make a decision that will satisfy all of Ukraine ."