Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Ukraine leader vows to block election changes
Fri Jun 5, 2009 10:28am EDT
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Ron Popeski
KIEV (Reuters) - President Viktor Yushchenko appealed to the world community Friday to uphold democracy in Ukraine, vowing to block an opposition proposal to change the constitution and have the president elected by parliament.
The pro-Western Yushchenko, whose popularity has slumped, met ambassadors from G7 industrialized nations as Ukraine's two biggest parties proceeded with plans to form a broad coalition to end 4 1/2 years of political upheaval.
The coalition would bring together groups led by two rivals, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former premier Viktor Yanukovich. Both are also rivals of the president.
Yushchenko was dealt a new blow when parliament dismissed the defense minister, one of his few remaining stalwart allies.
Neither Tymoshenko nor Yanukovich has commented publicly on the coalition talks and there was no sign a quick deal was in the works as Ukraine headed into a long holiday weekend.
Both Yanukovich's Regions Party and Tymoshenko's say a coalition would command more than 300 seats in parliament, enough to change the constitution to have the president elected by parliament rather than by a country-wide vote.
"As head of state, I guarantee that I will permit no illegal election of the president of Ukraine by parliament and will do everything in my power for Ukraine to meet all its international obligations ensuring human rights," Yushchenko was quoted by his Internet site as telling G7 ambassadors.
"But it is clear that such actions will not be enough. I therefore appeal to the international community to extend its assistance to ensure the democratic process in Ukraine."
PRESIDENT DEMANDS REFERENDUM
Addressing journalists later, Yushchenko said any change in electoral procedures had to be submitted to a referendum.
"This is a serious threat. I am therefore appealing to the nation. You must unite, the time has come," he said.
He said he would take part in the next presidential election "as I see this as my duty as a citizen, regardless of my poll rating and how my record is assessed."
Yushchenko swept to power with backing from Western leaders after mass "Orange Revolution" protests against poll fraud in 2004. Infighting, mostly pitting him against Tymoshenko, has reduced his poll ratings to single figures.
Sniping brought down one government with Tymoshenko as premier within seven months of taking office. The government she now heads is underpinned by an unsteady coalition in parliament.
A coalition with Yanukovich would likely improve Kiev's relations with Moscow, which has been irritated by Yushchenko's drive to join NATO and criticism of Russian intervention last year in Georgia. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
Yahoo!
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
UPDATE 1-White House's Romer says jobless rate to stay high
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Fighting the Taliban
A growing insurgency in Afghanistan is also spreading deep into Pakistan, making both countries crucial to U.S. war efforts in the region. Full Coverage
More International News
UK's PM seeks to save government with reshuffle
Bomb kills 40 in Pakistan mosque as Holbrooke visits
Airbus warns airlines after Air France crash
| Video
U.S. to impose financial sanctions on North Korea: report
| Video
Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi trial, witness ruling
More International News...
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Carradine's "Americana" was one from the heart | Video
Thai coroner seeks cause of "Kung Fu" actor's death | Video
Airbus warns airlines after Air France crash
UPDATE 6-Speed an issue in Air France crash, search goes on
Airbus warns airlines after Air France crash | Video
UK's PM seeks to save government with reshuffle
Angelo Mozilo, mortgage risk-taker charged with fraud
"Kung Fu" actor David Carradine found hanged in Thai hotel
Five Features Bing Shouldn't Be Getting Credit For
Record turnout at Hong Kong Tiana
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Gaming fans flock to E3
A blunt message for Arabs, Israel
Carradine death probe
IATA: Air France crash "tragedy"
Obama visits the pyramids
Mexico mob crime killing spree
David Carradine dead
Leaving Sadr City
Tiananmen vigil in Hong Kong
No gas for this air-powered car
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
Fearing the supermen of Guantanamo
Bernd Debusmann
The language used in the debate over plans to close the detention center has taken on a surreal quality and convey the impression that Guantanamo detainees will wander the streets, shopping for sandals and guns. Commentary
Follow Bernd Debusmann on Twitter
We want to hear from you
Join the Reuters Consumer Insight Panel and help us get to know you better
Please take a moment to complete our survey
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Labs |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.