Ukraine's parliament voted on 1 December 2004 to dismiss Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich's cabinet, replacing it with an administration drawn from opposition ranks. The move came as tens of thousands of protesters filled Kiev's streets for a 10th straight day, pressing for a new presidential election after a disputed 21 November runoff.
Both candidates had separately petitioned the supreme court to annul those results. Yanukovich alleged fraud in western regions that backed his rival Viktor Yushchenko; Yushchenko filed the same claim about eastern areas where Yanukovich ran strongly. President Leonid Kuchma raised the stakes by calling for the entire election, including the uncontested first round, to be re-run. The court had not yet ruled.
European mediators converged on Kiev to broker a way out. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski joined other officials for a second round of talks with both sides at the Mariinsky Palace. The United States endorsed holding a fresh vote; Russia, which had recognized Yanukovich's contested win, offered no comment.
Ukraine's economy was beginning to show strain. Banks faced early signs of a deposit run, currency withdrawal limits were imposed, and the central bank was drawing down reserves to defend the hryvna.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in December 2004, in its own words.