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Yushchenko Says Could Accept New Vote


Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko (file photo) 24 November 2004 -- Ukraine's presidential candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, says the opposition is ready to hold a repeat election as long as the election commission is honest and there is "no disgraceful administrative pressure."

"We are ready to hold the second round [of elections] once again provided we have an honest Central Election Commission [TsVK]. We are ready to hold the second round again provided there is no disgraceful administrative pressure," Yushchenko said.

Yushchenko made the comments to a crowd of supporters in Kyiv today shortly before the TsVK began an emergency session behind closed doors.

The commission has said that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is three percentage points ahead of Yushchenko with nearly all votes counted from the 21 November election.

Yushchenko has complained of mass violations and drawn thousands of supporters to the streets for three straight days. Western observers also said the election was marred by fraud.

(AP/AFP/Reuters)

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