International mediators search for Ukraine compromise

International mediators were renewing efforts today to defuse Ukraine’s political crisis, with the opposition and government locked in a tense stand-off awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the disputed results of the presidential election.

The last internationally brokered negotiations broke down over opposition accusations that the government was trying to consolidate its flagging authority by dragging out the talks.

Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko is pushing to be declared the outright winner of the election – or for a fast revote to capitalise on the momentum generated by a 10 day street protest by his supporters that has paralysed Kiev and government business.

Official results have declared Kremlin-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych the winner, and Western-leaning Yushchenko accused the government of stealing the election through rampant fraud.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Kiev last night and was to be followed today by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and the secretary general of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Jan Kubis. The speaker of the Russian parliament, Boris Gryzlov, and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus were also expected to participate.

Opposition MPs renewed efforts to push through a vote of no-confidence in Yanukovych’s government in parliament on today, but prospects were slim as too few MPs showed up.

Some 2,000 Yushchenko supporters – carrying flags and banners in his campaign colour of orange – gathered outside the building, allowing only MPs and parliament staff through their ranks.

A new presidential election was likely to be high on the agenda of today’s meetings with international mediators. Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has endorsed the idea but the government appeared to be manoeuvring for a way to keep Yushchenko from taking part.

Yanukovych suggested he could agree to Kuchma’s proposal for a new election - but that both he and Yushchenko should bow out if one is held.

“If this election brings a split in the country ... I’m ready to drop my bid along with him,” Yanukovych said.

Yushchenko ignored the proposal. He also rebuffed the offer of the prime minister’s post under a Yanukovych presidency, saying it fell far short of a solution to Ukraine’s crisis.

“The election was rigged,” he said. “People are asking whether this country has a political elite capable of upholding a fair vote.”

Yushchenko has led the opposition for years and was long seen as its candidate in a country where millions are yearning for change after Kuchma’s 10 year rule. Kuchma anointed Yanukovych as his favoured successor last spring, hoping his prominence as prime minister would attract votes.

Solana, who held talks with Kuchma last night, voiced hope the two sides could be brought back to the table.

“I’m sure that with the goodwill of everybody we will see the progress in the coming days,” he said.

Both campaigns are pinning their hopes on the Supreme Court, which was convening for a third day to consider Yushchenko’s appeal for the official results to be annulled.

The political crisis stoked fears of Ukraine’s break-up. Yushchenko draws his support from the Ukrainian-speaking west and the capital, while Yanukovych’s base is the Russian-speaking, industrialised east.