Ukraine Opposition Leader Claims Victory

[maddezmom]

KIEV, Ukraine - Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko defiantly claimed Ukraine's presidency Tuesday, taking a symbolic oath of office in parliament, as around 200,000 of his orange-clad supporters massed outside in the frigid streets of Kiev demanding the disputed election be overturned.


AP Photo



Yushchenko warned of "civil conflict" if he is not recognized as the country's new leader, accusing the government of rigging Sunday's run-off in favor of pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.


On the parliament floor, after a special session, Yushchenko approached the podium and swore an oath on a 300-year-old Bible as lawmakers who backed him shouted, "Bravo, Mr. President!"


Outside, throngs of his supporters massed behind metal barriers, holding a giant orange ribbon over their heads. They chanted "Criminals, go away!" and "Yushchenko!" Some waved signs reading, "Today or Never." Earlier, Yushchenko led the crowds in a march on the building, turning Kiev's narrow, brick streets into a sea of orange — the color of his campaign.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&ncid=732&e=2&u=/ap/20041123/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_election

[bullimiami]

1. YOU SEE! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.

John Kerry needs to stand up at some point and do this same thing.

Say the election was a farce and was criminal and that Rove and his minions rigged it and say he is the winner. Period. We will demonstrate and chant Kerry Kerry and Bush go away and Today or Never and Democracy for America etc etc and fight for what is right for a change.

Why are americans such god damn pussies? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY????????

It makes me want to whack myself in the head with a blunt object.

[demokatgurrl]

11. Why are we Americans pussies? Because we have it too good.

Wait until the economy collapses, the unemployment rate becomes catastrophic, social security and medicare are gone and old people are living outside picking food out of garbage cans, we have lost half our civil liberties- THEN maybe we will learn to fight like the citizens of the former Soviet bloc.

Hopefully.

[alexisfree]

2. this is what Kerry ....

As a mark of protest he put his hand on a Bible and stood at a window to address about 200,000 people outside.

should it done!!!

[Sideways]

3. Viktor Yushchenko Is A HERO!

n/t

[alexisfree]

4. this pic said 1000 words...

[JuniorPlankton]

5. Wow!

I grew up in Ukraine and at some point moved to the US in search of "democracy and freedom". How ironic... :(

[robbedvoter]

7. I know exactly what you mean.

[robbedvoter]

6. In 2000, in Yougoslavia, when Milosevic tried to pull a Bush, a revolution

started. In NYC, I went on Nov 11 at some protest against the stolen election organized by United for peace and Justtice. No one showed up but us.
We're #1! We're #1
But then again, we also have leaders like kerry, Obama who tell us to get over it. yet again.

[eardoc]

8. If only the US electorate had the balls of the Ukrainians

The US election gets stolen to a similar degree and what does the average American do?
Settle down and watch football for the winter.

(with apologies to those, such as in Colorado, who did try to get through the media silence)

Sad, Sad, Sad

[demokatgurrl]

9. I thought it a bit ironic when I heard on the radio today that

the U.S. government is supporting the challenger's recount demand.

[alexisfree]

10. mm m

confuse.too..???:shrug:

[kostya]

12. Kick n/t

:kick: