Ukraine opposition tries to win back 'stolen' election

[Moloch]

KIEV (AFP) - Opposition supporters began a third day of protests in Ukraine amid hopes that negotiations could defuse a tense standoff over a weekend vote that their leader and much of the West claim was stolen by the government.

Thousands of supporters of opposition chief Viktor Yushchenko set up tents outside Kiev's presidential administration building awaiting a potential showdown with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and his handpicked pro-Russia successor.

The Moscow-leaning Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has remained largely out of sight since pulling ahead by three percent in the disputed Sunday vote and even his main international backer Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) backtracked Tuesday evening from his initial recognition of his win.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=1&u=/afp/20041124/ts_afp/ukraine_vote_041124083755

[alittlelark]

1. GO - GO - GO!!!

We in the 'Understanding Something (MSM) Always aka-USA. Bless your cause, and wish that we were not so SATISFIED.

[ochazuke]

2. We are not men.

Fraud was evident here even before the election. Just the fact that the voting machines cannot be verified (no paper trail) is an act of massive fraud.

And what do we do?

Look at the Ukrainians. Gives you hope for democracy.

Don't look here. Americans are too busy with themselves. Me included.

[JNelson6563]

3. Our "leadership" should watch and learn

These people seem to know how it's done. I am really pulling for them!

Julie

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Ukrainian newsreaders walk out over 'censorship'

The IFJ said four newsreaders on Channel 1+1 had refused to read the news after complaining of "crude" censorship, forcing the station to drop certain news bulletins altogether.
...
The main TV channels are effectively controlled by the state and subject to heavy censorship. They have heavily backed government candidate Viktor Yanukovich, who won the disputed election by a margin of 3% on Sunday.

Journalists have also complained at the government's "systematic" use of "temnyks" - instructions to editorial offices as to how certain subjects should be covered.
...
At Channel 5, the only nationwide channel to make a serious attempt at balanced reporting, only a week-long hunger strike by staff in late October succeeded in beating off an attempt to close it down.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1358464,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704