Ukraine Opposition Ups Pressure Amid Autonomy Moves

[Khephra]

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine edged a little closer toward a break-up on Sunday as a powerful eastern region backing the Moscow-backed prime minister in a disputed election for president set a December referendum on autonomy.

In a separate secessionist move, another part of the economically-powerful region backing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich said it would vote next Sunday to form a republic within a federal Ukrainian state.

The opposition, meanwhile, which has paralyzed normal life in the capital with street protests, upped the pressure, calling for Yanukovich to be sacked. The prime minister was officially declared winner of the Nov. 21 election, now widely denounced as subject to fraud.

Firebrand deputy Yulia Tymoshenko, an aide of presidential rival Viktor Yushchenko, demanded a coalition government be formed.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=629175§ion=news

[CHIMO]

1. Donetsk Fuels Fears of a Breakup

SEVERODONETSK, Ukraine -- Ukraine edged a little closer to a breakup Sunday as the powerful Donetsk region, which backs Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the disputed presidential election, set a December referendum on autonomy.

The decision, following a rally in Severodonetsk near the Russian border, raised the temperature in a national feud between backers of Yanukovych and his liberal opposition rival, Viktor Yushchenko, over the results of the Nov. 21 runoff election.

The legislature in Donetsk voted 156 to 1 to hold a referendum Dec. 5 on giving the region the status of a republic within Ukraine.

Earlier Sunday, 3,500 delegates from several Russian-speaking regions in the east and south of Ukraine passed a resolution in favor of a December referendum "to determine the area's status."

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/11/29/001.html