The fallout from the initial official results of Ukraine's presidential elections, announced by its central election commission, is increasing amid accusations of rigging from both the opposition and international observers.

On Monday the commission said that, with ballots from 99.48 per cent of polling stations counted, Prime Minister Yanukovich had secured 49.39 per cent of the vote, and the opposition contender, Yushchenko, 46.71 per cent.

The election was seen by many as a choice between Yushchenko's western-looking policies and the pro-Russian Yanukovich.

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in the capital while outgoing President Leonid Kuchma urged for talks on Tuesday to settle the disputed results.
 
Kuchma's call came hours after Yushchenko, who says he was denied victory by fraud, declared himself president on Tuesday.

His accusations are supported by observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe (both of which Ukraine is a member) as well as the European Parliament and NATO.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned yesterday that violence was possible as the bitter contest deepened. "The country is now at a crossroads," he told the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that his government had "considered the presidential election as a test of Ukrainian democracy and credibility with its partners in the world. Unfortunately, we cannot consider this test as having been met satisfactorily."

The US on Tuesday also pressed for Ukraine not to certify the results until claims of fraud had been investigated.

"The United States is deeply disturbed by extensive and credible indications of fraud," a White House spokesperson told reporters. "The government bears a special responsibility not to use or incite violence," she added.

On Monday the US had said it would review its relationship with Ukraine and take punitive steps if the government failed to investigate the allegations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday urged Ukraine to solve its political crisis through legal means.

A Kremlin statement said Putin and Schroeder discussed the disputed election by phone and that the problems "could be solved through relevant political contacts and consultations."

Russia's lower house of parliament yesterday expressed support for Yanukovich whilst saying their Ukrainian counterparts should "do everything in their power to settle the crisis in the interests of the Ukrainian people," reported Interfax.

Earlier on Tuesday Putin agreed with the EU's call for a non-violent solution, saying: "I support this 100 per cent and I appeal to all parties that this take place within the field of the law." This was despite his foreign ministry having criticized the EU of bias against Yanukovich.

Yushchenko said yesterday he was prepared to take part in a rerun of the election provided it was overseen by honest officials.

Several municipal assemblies have refused to recognize the official ballot results and have urged the legislature to follow suit.

Yushchenko's strongholds are largely in the west of the country and the capital, whilst Yanukovich has most support in the industrial east.

(China Daily November 25, 2004)