Ukraine leaders clash in prime time debate

Ukraine’s bitter rivals for the presidency faced off in a much-anticipated televised debate tonight, with opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko accusing his rival of trying to steal the November runoff election that was later annulled because of fraud.

The TV clash between the contenders in the St Stephens's Day rerun of the vote was the first since the Supreme Court cancelled last month’s result because of ballot rigging which gave victory to Kremlin-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

It came amid tensions fuelled by massive street protests and revelations that Yushchenko was poisoned by dioxin while dining with government security chiefs in September.

The two stood facing each other in a Kiev television studio. Yushchenko, wearing a tie and a handkerchief in his campaign colour of orange, spoke first, saying the reason for the December 26 election rerun “was that the results of the November 21 votes were stolen … by my opponent and his team”.

In his introductory remarks, Yanukovych, wearing a tie in his trademark blue, spoke in Russian instead of Ukrainian, saying: “Your accusations toward me and toward my voters don’t give us the chance to look into the future optimistically,” he said, wagging his finger at Yushchenko.

Rules for the 100-minute debate allow the two candidates to ask each other questions directly after first giving their opening statements. Foreign policy, the economy and social benefits were expected to dominate.

Before the encounter, Yushchenko said he wanted a ”professional” debate with Yanukovych.

But Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said he expected something more “malicious” than the previous debate, which also saw personal attacks.

Ukrainians crammed into cafes and restaurants to watch the first debate, and even more were expected to tune in tonight.

The two candidates spent the day preparing in markedly different styles:

Yushchenko read books about economics and history, while Yanukovych visited Kiev’s Orthodox Monastery of Caves where he prayed, the paper said.

Tensions continue to spiral in Ukraine as the two candidates warn of potential provocations leading up to the December 26 vote.

Yushchenko’s assertion that Ukrainian security officials tried to poison him at a dinner – and scientists’ determination that a highly toxic dioxin was used – has further riled the campaign.

His face has been badly disfigured and he has undergone treatment at an Austrian hospital.

Meanwhile, an opposition convoy – dubbed the “friendship journey” – is travelling around this divided nation of 48 million trying to sow support for Yushchenko in mostly Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions where Yanukovych draws most of his backing.

Some 50 cars – carrying mostly artists and musicians and draped with Yushchenko’s orange campaign colours – visited the industrial city of Zaporizhia today.