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As there were two days left before the revote of the presidential run-off and the election campaign will end as of 24:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Friday, the two rivals, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko were making final sprint towards the victory.
Yushchenko warns of possible violence while confident in victory
During a press conference on Friday in Kiev, Yushchenko warned the authorities of possible violence during the Sunday revote.
"It will be a colossal mistake by the authorities if even one drop of blood is shed," Yushchenko said.
He called on the law enforcement bodies to carry out their duties to protect the law and the citizens of Ukraine on voting day.
He said that attempts to derail the election using violence are quite possible, but will not influence voting results.
He expressed confidence that he will become the president.
Yanukovych, who continued his election campaign marathon in the country's east, late on Friday attended a rally in Kiev's Glory Square.
"We are the masters of our land, and we will not live according to somebody's instructions," he told his supporters, urging them to vote in order to decide Ukraine's destiny by themselves.
Parliament urges law enforcement agencies to stay out of politics
Ukraine's parliament on Friday passed a statement, calling on the law enforcement agencies not to fall for acts of provocation and to obey the laws and the constitution during the rematch.
The lawmakers said that attempts to involve the servicemen of the armed forces and other law-enforcement bodies in political conflicts were "especially dangerous," noting that they condemn any attempts to destabilize the atmosphere during the election.
The statement came amid warning made by Yanukovych and Yushchenko, that there would be possible "bloodshed" and "collapses" between their supporters during the revote.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's senior security official promised to secure order on the revote.
"I urge the headquarters of both presidential candidates to restrain their followers from violating public order. They must acknowledge they are responsible for possible crimes during mass rallies," acting Interior Minister Vasyl Zhuk told a press conference Friday.
Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has also urged the security agencies to make outmost efforts to ensure public order during the repeat run-off.
During a meeting with acting Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and senior security officials held Thursday, Kuchma said that Dec. 26 will be "the most crucial day in Ukraine's life."
"This is not an exaggeration as this round of the elections will play a vital role in the fate of Ukraine," Kuchma was quoted by local media as saying.
Kuchma calls on Ukranians to carry out free, democratic poll
The incumbent President Kuchma late on Friday urged Ukrainians to carry out a free and democratic election. "Ukraine's future will depend on the civic consciousness of every Ukrainian citizen," Kuchma said in a televised address to the nation.
The outgoing President in the mean time called on the presidential hopefuls to cooperate after the poll is wound up, irrespectively of the election outcome.
"It is extremely important that the presidential candidates themselves, irrespectively of the results of the election, find strength to extend a hand of cooperation to one another. The Ukrainian people who cannot be halved need this act of civic consciousness," Kuchma noted.
Russian president vows not to use underhand methods to defend interests in ex-soviet states
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated Yanukovych on his victory in the controversial Nov. 21 run-off but later said he have no "problems" working with Yushchenko if he wins, said Friday that his country will not resort to any secret means to seek further interests in former Soviet republics.
"We will not use any underhand methods to promote our national interests," Putin told a State Council meeting in the Kremlin, adding that good relations with countries of the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) are much more important.
"We are not engaged in any behind-the-scenes politics in post-Soviet time," Putin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying, adding that "this limits to some extent the set of tools that we use to protect our interests in post-Soviet time."
The upcoming Sunday revote of presidential run-off between Yushchenko and Yanukovych will take place following the results of controversial Nov. 21 presidential run-off were annulled by the Supreme Court due to alleged massive fraud with stripping Yanukovych's victory.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2004)
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