Ukraine Opposition Blocks Buildings as Leaders Arrive

[leftchick]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=agjh2Bla80GQ&refer=europe


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Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian opposition supporters took to the streets of Kiev blocking and occupying government buildings in Kiev as EU leaders arrived to mediate in the standoff between the opposition and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych over the Nov. 21 presidential election.

Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski arrived in the capital today, his office said, and Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, was on his way, the EU said. Kwasniewski is due to meet Yanukovych, the declared winner of the election, and Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko who is contesting the result. Solana will meet both men and current President Leonid Kuchma, the EU said.

Kuchma invited Yushchenko for talks today, Agence France- Presse said, after which the two men will meet Solana and Kwasniewski. Yanukovych was prevented from entering his offices and may not meet the European leaders, AFP added. The president called in a television address for an end to mass opposition, warning of consequences, AFP said.

``There are people on the ground who are willing to look for solutions,'' said Emma Udwin, a European Commission spokeswoman said. ``They are doing that with the help of the European visitors.''

[djack23]

1. Go Yushchenko!

Democracy!! Go Yushchenko!! He is a real fighter! I think the opposition will win this. Keep up the pressure. It reminds me of the situation in Serbia a few years ago.

[scoopmeister]

2. Meanwhile, here in the US we can dream, can't we?

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/extra/archives/001257.html

American Protesters Blockade Official Buildings

By Richard Balmforth

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of opposition leader John Kerry blockaded official buildings in the American capital Friday in a direct challenge to the Christian fundamentalist-backed government's control of the country.

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