President Viktor Yushchenko appears at rally in centre of capital

(28 Apr 2007)
1. Wide of European Square packed with supporters of President Viktor Yushchenko
2. Yushchenko supporters in orange, chanting UPSOUND: "Yushchenko!"
3. Wide of Yushchenko walking to podium
4. Yushchenko kissing opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko
5. Cutaway of media
6. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine:
"What's happening now? Today we witness how, on a criminal base and through criminal corruption, not only people's votes, but deputies' votes are being manipulated. It is the betrayal of the electors. It is a gross violation of the constitution, when political results and the choice of the people are re-written in such a manner. It should not be permitted
7. Wide of Yushchenko and opposition leaders on podium
8. Wide of supporters chanting "Yushchenko", waving orange flags UPSOUND: chanting
9. Yushchenko walking towards supporters
10. Various of Yushchenko greeting supporters
11. Supporters chanting UPSOUND: "Yushchenko!"
12. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Ganna Mashenko, Yushchenko supporter:
"We support him (referring to Yushchenko)! Only parliament elections should be held. He is our president. We have fought for him and we will fight for him until the last drop of our blood."
12. Orange revolution flags
13. Wide of rally
STORYLINE:
President Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday took his battle with the prime minister to the streets for the first time in Ukraine's four-week-old political crisis, rallying supporters and promising not to back down on his demand for early parliamentary elections.
Yushchenko's appearance at the rally in a central Kiev square could aggravate the political crisis that has seized this ex-Soviet republic since April 2.
The crisis was triggered by an April 2 decree issued by Yushchenko, in which he announced the dissolution of parliament and said he wanted to hold early parliamentary elections.
Premier Viktor Yanukovych has refused to act on the decree and challenged it in the Constitutional Court.
"Today we witness how, on a criminal base and through criminal corruption, not only people's votes, but deputies' votes are being manipulated. It is the betrayal of the electors. It is a gross violation of the constitution," Yushchenko told some 40-thousand flag-waving supporters.
Until now, the president had tried to remain above the political fray by refraining from taking part in the rallies and counter-rallies that have besieged the capital.
He had also scolded Yanukovych for calling his supporters out to Kiev's Independence Square.
However, with this appearance, he threw himself firmly on the side of the parties in opposition to Yanukovych.
Greeted by chanting supporters, he appealed to them to unite and fight for the June 24 election together.
"We support him (referring to Yushchenko)! Only parliament elections should be held," one Yushchenko supporter,Ganna Mashenko, told AP Television.
Earlier on Saturday, Yanukovych indicated he might be willing to compromise on holding early parliamentary elections.
Still, it was unclear how far he was willing to move toward compromise.
On Friday, he suggested holding early parliamentary elections simultaneously with an early presidential vote - something Yushchenko is unlikely to agree to.
Yushchenko defended his decision to dissolve parliament, likening it to the 2004 Orange Revolution when hundreds of thousands flooded Kiev's streets to protest a fraudulent presidential election re-count.
Yushchenko announced earlier this week that he was postponing the date for elections to June 24.
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