Ukraine: Kuchma: Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma

(10 Mar 2001) Ukrainian/Nat

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma told reporters in Kiev on Saturday that he has no intention of stepping down from his post, despite growing pressure from the political opposition.

Making an appearance at a sporting event in the Ukrainian capital, Kuchma went on to describe Friday's events in Kiev as an attempt by 'brown plague' to seize power in Ukraine.

The brown plague is a common Eastern European reference to fascism.

On Friday, Kiev was rocked by the bloodiest protest in a three-month campaign against President Leonid Kuchma,

Several people were injured as demonstrators hurled bottles and Molotov cocktails, and riot police used tear gas.

The injured included six police, several protesters and a photographer.

Dozens were arrested and thousands of police were deployed throughout the city.

The most serious clashes broke out near the presidential administration, initiated by the members of the UNA-UNSO ultra-nationalist youth movement who attacked the riot police.

In the evening about 30 UNA-UNSO (Ukraine's National Self-Defence), supporters were arrested close to their headquarters after more fighting with police.

The campaign to oust Kuchma from power was sparked last December by accusations that he was involved in the killing of a critical journalist.

The campaign has also been fuelled by anger at his failure to solve Ukraine's economic ills.

SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian)
"I want people to open their eyes and realize that these are first seeds of "the brown plague" (that might come to Ukraine)"
SUPER CAPTION: President of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma

SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian)
"If this so called "opposition' wants the President to vacate his place - well, this is not an opposition. An opposition must work within a civilized framework like it's done elsewhere in the world. You've got elections - presidential, parliament - to wrestle the power from. That is, if you can."
SUPER CAPTION: President of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It is difficult to say who will win in this struggle for power. But I'm deeply disturbed by this first display of open violence -who knows what may come after."
SUPER CAPTION: Olexander (first name only), Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Authorities must remain in charge of things even if they are not without a fault themselves. The power of crowd would be worse at any rate - the history is an example. The leaders of opposition must remember that the crowd often executes current authorities then moves to eradicate the leaders of the revolution itself."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Sychenko, Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian)
"It obviously was a start of the political repressions in Ukraine. It is obvious Kuchma is ready to use repressions but it is also clear that we are not going to give up."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Chemerys, opposition leader

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