ATTENTION PLEASE.

[Keith DeLong]

Some encouragement out of the US:

Powell: U.S. Rejects Ukraine Vote Results


By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON -  Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said
Wednesday the United States cannot accept the results of elections in
Ukraine, which the opposition says was marred by fraud.

 Powell warned "there will be consequences" for the United States'
relationship with Ukraine as a result of the developments in the former
Soviet bloc nation.

 Powell spoke shortly after election officials in Ukraine declared that
Kremlin-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych won the election over
opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko. The announcement raised fears of
violence in Kiev, where tens of thousands of demonstrators have been
demanding that the results be overturned.

 "We cannot accept this result as legitimate because it does not meet
international standards" and allegations of fraud hadn't been investigated,
Powell said at a news conference.

 Powell said he spoke with outgoing Ukraine President Leonid Kuchma and
urged that his government not crack down on demonstrators. He also spoke
with other regional leaders, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov.

 Powell did not elaborate about his conversation with Lavrov, but said he
advocated a solution to the crisis in Ukraine that is "based on the law,
using legal procedures."

 The State Department confirmed Tuesday that it had summoned the Russian
ambassador and discussed Ukraine. The Kremlin described the meeting as
"unprecedented interference" in another country's affairs.