Leaders from 30 countries gathered today to remember the victims of the Holocaust on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis’ Auschwitz death camp by Soviet troops.

Ukraine’s crisis deepened tonight when the opposition abruptly broke off compromise talks over the tainted presidential election after pro-government MPs blocked a no-confidence motion seeking to topple the prime minister.

Thousands of Ukrainian opposition supporters encircled government buildings in Kiev today, refusing to let anyone through as they intensified their protests against the outcome of disputed presidential elections.

Wedged between troubled Ukraine and the West, Poland has plunged into the disputed Ukrainian presidential election in an attempt to mediate – a sign of anxiety over the prospect of instability and rising Russian influence so close to home.

As Ukraine’s political opposition savoured a court victory blocking official publication of results in a disputed presidential election, three European envoys were headed to the ex-Soviet republic today on a quest to nudge the two candidates’ camps into talks.

Improving transatlantic ties between Europe and the US was a key issue for many leaders today whomever US voters send to the White House.

THE Polish president spelt out his compromise proposals for the new EU Constitution in Warsaw yesterday, bringing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern an important step closer to finalising the constitution in June.

President Aleksander Kwasniewski told cheering supporters today that Poland has fulfilled its aspirations to return to Europe, after exit polls showed an overwhelming 82% voting ’yes’ to EU membership.

ALTERNATIVE plans are being worked on by legal experts to allow EU enlargement go ahead, even if the Irish vote No in the Nice Referendum, the Polish President admitted last night.