KIEV, Nov 22 (AFP) - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, who won Ukraine's contested presidential election, offered Monday to take the opposition's views into account during his term in office, as protests continued in Kiev to denounce the election results.
"I understand and respect your choice and your right to your own political position," Interfax quoted Yanukovich as saying.
"Your view of Ukraine's future will definitely be taken into account by the new leadership of Ukraine," Yanukovich said.
Tens of thousands of supporters of liberal opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who led comfortably in independent exit polls, massed in central Kiev as Yanukovich spoke, calling on parliament to annul the election results.
A US State Department official said Washington saw "serious flaws and problems with this election," which was also condemned by European observers, but Russian President Vladimir Putin called Yanukovich to congratulate him with his "decisive" win.
Yanukovich led Western-leaning Yushchenko by about three percent of the vote with more than 99 percent of the polling stations reporting.
The pro-Moscow Yanukovich did not specify how he intended to take Yushchenko's supporters' views into account, but he denounced the demonstrations as divisive.
"We must forget as soon as possible the things that divided us during this election campaign," Yanukovich said.
"We are one, united people," he said.
But he attacked Yushchenko for calling for the demonstrations, which the opposition said would last until parliament annuls the result.
The Kiev city government and two other opposition-dominated cities in western Ukraine, Yushchenko's Ukrainian speaking base of support, have also refused to recognize the results.
"I categorically reject actions of certain politicians that are now calling people out to the barricades," Yanukovich said.
"This is a small group of radicals that is setting a goal of splitting Ukraine apart, using force as pressure against the law" of Ukraine, he said.
Yanukovich said the protests could lead to violence in which children could get hurt. The most radical Yushchenko supporters are youth groups, which had regular clashes with the police during unsanctioned rallies during the election campaign.
Yanukovich said that he has heard "numerous appeals from Ukrainian mothers not to let their children get hurt.
"I am promising to you that we have enough sense ... and responsibility not to allow things to destabilize" in the country.
11/22/2004 19:28 GMT - AFP