Coalition Supporters Rally In Kyiv

Pro-Yanukovych supporters from the city of Kerch demonstrate in Kyiv today (RFE/RL) KYIV, April 7, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Some 7,000 supporters of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych rallied in Kyiv today to protest President Viktor Yushchenko's order to dissolve parliament and call new elections, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

Yanukovych has rejected the order and urged the legislature to continue working while it waits for the Constitutional Court to rule on its legality. (A gallery of images from Kyiv on April 6 and April 7.)


The pro-Western Yushchenko ordered the dissolution of parliament accusing the pro-Russian supporters of Yanukovych of violating the constitution and seeking to usurp power.


MORE: Coverage in Ukrainian from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.


Coverage in Russian from RFE/RL's Russian Service.


Serhiy, a Yanukovych supporter, said demonstrators would remain on the streets until the president backed down.


"We will stay here until [Yushchenko] cancels his decree," Serhiy said. "Let him cancel the decree, which is illegal. We consider that the parliament [is in power]."


Talks between Yushchenko and Yanukovych this week failed to yield a compromise.


The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned Yushchenko on April 6 to express his concern over the potential economic effects of the crisis and urge a constitutional solution.


(with material from agency reports)

RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report

RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report


SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and analysis on Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report."