Putin condemns demand for revote
Mr Putin, a powerful ally of the Ukrainian government, denounced the opposition's demand for a repeat of Ukraine's bitterly contentious November 21 run-off vote.
"A revote could be conducted a third, a fourth, 25th time, until one side gets the results it needs," a grim-faced Mr Putin said, standing alongside Ukraine's outgoing president, Leonid Kuchma. The two met at Moscow's airport after Mr Kuchma flew in for a hastily organised visit as his government appeared to be losing momentum in the 11-day stand-off with the opposition.
US President George W Bush said that if a new vote is held in Ukraine it "ought to be free from any foreign influence" - an apparent veiled reference to Russia.
Mr Bush did not single out any country, but his words seemed to echo those of Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, with whom Mr Bush met this week and who explicitly said Russia must not meddle in the Ukrainian matter.
With a new vote appearing more likely, Mr Kuchma is trying to ensure an entirely new election is held - rather than a new run-off between his ally, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, a pro-Western reformer .
Mr Kuchma may want to put forward a stronger candidate to replace Mr Yanukovych in the race, which would only be possible if an election is held from scratch.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of upbeat opposition supporters waving orange flags and balloons watched the crucial Supreme Court debate on televisions in the capital's main square yesterday, awaiting a ruling that could decide whether a new vote is held in the country's presidential crisis.
The mood among the throngs of Mr Yushchenko supporters rallying in a tent city in Kiev's Independence Square was celebratory, with the Supreme Court widely expected to rule invalid the official results that declared Mr Yanukovych the winner of the November 21 run-off.
A Christmas tree festooned in orange - the opposition's campaign colour - was erected in the tent camp, while a rock bank played on stage, their instruments fluttering with orange ribbons.
Other protesters kept up their blockade of the cabinet building despite an agreement the day before to lift their sieges of government offices.
"We aren't letting anyone through. Why should we? We are so close to victory, why surrender now?" said Natalya Nechipurenko, aged 38, one of dozens of protesters standing shoulder-to-shoulder to block entrances to the building.
The Supreme Court proceedings were aired live on television, showing red-robed judges hearing testimony in the cramped chambers.
Many had expected the court to rule yesterday, but as night fell it was unclear whether it would or not.
Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych agreed Wednesday to respect the ruling. The opposition charges that government fraud cheated Mr Yushchenko of victory in the runoff, and his campaign has appealed results from eastern regions where the prime minister's support is strongest.
Yesterday, the court rejected Mr Yanukovych's objections to parts of the opposition's appeal - leaving open the possibility that the judges name Mr Yushchenko the president based on results from the election's first round, which the opposition leader won by a narrow margin.
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