tomm
13 mei 2009, 14:41
Anti-government protesters and police have clashed in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, amid rising national tensions.
Riot police used batons on protesters trying to enter a police compound where three people were being held over the alleged beating of a local journalist.
The clashes were the first major unrest since anti-government demonstrations began in early April.
They come a day after the authorities said they had thwarted an army mutiny at a base outside the capital.
Later in the evening, opposition leaders and supporters gathered outside parliament for a rally, as they have daily since 9 April.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of President Mikhail Saakashvili over his leadership record and his handling of Georgia's war with Russia last summer.
'Small scuffle'
The latest clashes broke out after dark in a suburb of Tbilisi after demonstrators, including opposition party leaders, surrounded the police station.
"This president has dug his own grave - we'll be standing and fighting till the very end "
Nino Burjanadze
Opposition leader
They were demanding the release of three opposition activists arrested over the alleged beating of a reporter for a public broadcaster on Tuesday.
Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said riot police used batons to force back protesters trying to break into the building and there had been "a small scuffle".
Mr Utiashvili denied accusations from protesters that police had used "excessive force", including firing rubber bullets into the crowds.
He said saying the police had acted "with the utmost restraint".
Television footage showed several injured protesters, including some with blood on their faces.
The opposition said dozens of their supporters were injured, while Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze put the number at 22, with six police officers also wounded.
Later, several thousands protesters converged on parliament for further rallies.
"This president has dug his own grave," said opposition leader Nino Burjanadze.
"We'll be standing and fighting till the very end."
On Tuesday, Mr Saakashvili claimed his government had put down a brief mutiny among a tank battalion.
Tbilisi had said it was part of a Russian-linked coup attempt to kill Mr Saakashvili.
But opposition parties said the alleged mutiny was a deliberate attempt by the government to distract attention from the new phase of anti-government protests.
The latest unrest comes as Georgia hosts a series of Nato training exercises amid angry condemnation from Russia.
They are taking place close to areas where Russian troops are stationed in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said the drills, involving more than 1,000 soldiers from 18 countries, were "an overt provocation".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8036942.stm
Early 2008 at public opinion polls for the Ukrainian presidential election, 2009 she stood at a 30% rate but late-April 2009 that had shrunk to 15%[76] According to another poll carried out between February 3 and February 12, 2009 by the “Sofia” Center for Social Studies some 59.1% of those polled believe that the activities of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are aimed at the defense of her own interests and that of her entourage, some 4.2% said her activities are aimed at defense of interests of foreign states and some 23.9% believe that Yulia Tymoshenko works for the sake of national interests. 77.7% of the respondents are unsatisfied with the economic policy of Yulia Tymoshenko’s government. Some 71.8% believe that the incumbent government is not able to lead economics out of crisis and even change the situation in Ukraine to better; 18.1% of respondents do think the incumbent government can do that.[78][79]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yulia_Tymoshenko
http://ukrainetoday.blogspot.com/200...sident-in.html
Yushchenko voted worst President in Ukraine's history
Kyiv, April 13- Ukrainians say the country's third president, Viktor Yushchenko, whose term of office is to end late this or early next year, is the worst head of state since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
According to a poll conducted by TNS Ukraine, just 7% of Ukrainians rate Yushchenko the best president of the three, the others being Leonid Kuchma, who held the post from 1994 until 2005, and Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994).
A total of 21% said Kravchuk was the best, while 39% put Kuchma on top. Twenty-seven percent of respondents found difficulty answering the question and 6% refused to answer.
The poll was conducted March 6-14, its results were published on the pollster's website. A total of 1,200 people aged 16-75 were polled, with the statistical margin of error not exceeding 3%
It is worth highlighting this article which reflects accurately the state of support and lack of leadership provided by Victor Yushchenko, Ukraine's President, who was elected in 2004 following the so called "Orange Revolution".
The "Orange Revolution" has tuned sour with Yushchenko betraying the democratic values of those who supported his election to office.
The rate of decline in his support has been as dramatic as the conflict and division within Ukraine he has caused, most notably was his dismissal of Ukraine's parliament in 2007 which saw Ukraine paralysed by political conflict and division for seven months. His attempts to fuel the conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. His final act of betrayal when he attacked Yulia Tymoshenko accusing her position in relation to the Russian Georgian copnflict as an act of State Treason. Yushchenko then sought to remove Yulia Tymoshchenko from the office of Prime minister by again seeking to dismiss Ukraine's parliament in October 2008.
Yushchenko first betrayed the "Revolution" when he refused to share power and attacked the Socialist Party forcing them to withdraw from negotiations on the formation of a "Orange" governing coalition and the formation of a government lead by Viktor Yanukovych in 2006.
Yushchenko and his party Our Ukraine contined undermining their coalition partner Yulia Tymoshenko, by pursuing policies of division and opposing democratic reforms whilst pushing Ukraine towards joining NATO against the overwhelming majority of public opinion.
Yushchenko's consistent acts of betrayal and division has seen his support slump to such an extent that he now holds the world's record as the least supported head of state.
Recent polls have placed him below 3% and his if Parliamentary elections where held today his party Our Ukraine would obtain less then 2% support and would be denied representation.
The Polls are showing that most of Yushchenko's support has been transferred to young Yatseniuk but Ukraine remains bitterly divided as ever, another legacy of Yushchenko's betrayal and failed policies.
As a result Party of Region's leader, Victor Yanukovych - Yushchenko's opponent in the 2004 Presidential elections, is now in poll position to win both a Parliamentary and Presidential ballot.
Victor Yushchenko, who opposed holding simultaneous Parliamentary and early Presidential elections back in 2007 when he first unconstitutionally dismissed Ukraine's democratically elected Parliament, is now seeking revenge by advocting a fresh round of Parliamentary elections to held simultaneously with the next Presidential elections scheduled for October 25.
The polls show little change in the outcome other then handing controlling power to Party of Regions who would be the only main party able to form a coalition government with the support of either Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko, Yatseniuk's Party or the Communist Party. Lytyvn's Bloc (head by Ukraine's parliamentary speaker) will play a minor to non existent role in the formation of a new government
Our Ukraine and Victor Yushchenko will have no influence, such is the outcome of his betrayal to Ukraine which has taken its toll on Ukraine's economy and political stability.
Riot police used batons on protesters trying to enter a police compound where three people were being held over the alleged beating of a local journalist.
The clashes were the first major unrest since anti-government demonstrations began in early April.
They come a day after the authorities said they had thwarted an army mutiny at a base outside the capital.
Later in the evening, opposition leaders and supporters gathered outside parliament for a rally, as they have daily since 9 April.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of President Mikhail Saakashvili over his leadership record and his handling of Georgia's war with Russia last summer.
'Small scuffle'
The latest clashes broke out after dark in a suburb of Tbilisi after demonstrators, including opposition party leaders, surrounded the police station.
"This president has dug his own grave - we'll be standing and fighting till the very end "
Nino Burjanadze
Opposition leader
They were demanding the release of three opposition activists arrested over the alleged beating of a reporter for a public broadcaster on Tuesday.
Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said riot police used batons to force back protesters trying to break into the building and there had been "a small scuffle".
Mr Utiashvili denied accusations from protesters that police had used "excessive force", including firing rubber bullets into the crowds.
He said saying the police had acted "with the utmost restraint".
Television footage showed several injured protesters, including some with blood on their faces.
The opposition said dozens of their supporters were injured, while Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze put the number at 22, with six police officers also wounded.
Later, several thousands protesters converged on parliament for further rallies.
"This president has dug his own grave," said opposition leader Nino Burjanadze.
"We'll be standing and fighting till the very end."
On Tuesday, Mr Saakashvili claimed his government had put down a brief mutiny among a tank battalion.
Tbilisi had said it was part of a Russian-linked coup attempt to kill Mr Saakashvili.
But opposition parties said the alleged mutiny was a deliberate attempt by the government to distract attention from the new phase of anti-government protests.
The latest unrest comes as Georgia hosts a series of Nato training exercises amid angry condemnation from Russia.
They are taking place close to areas where Russian troops are stationed in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said the drills, involving more than 1,000 soldiers from 18 countries, were "an overt provocation".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8036942.stm
Early 2008 at public opinion polls for the Ukrainian presidential election, 2009 she stood at a 30% rate but late-April 2009 that had shrunk to 15%[76] According to another poll carried out between February 3 and February 12, 2009 by the “Sofia” Center for Social Studies some 59.1% of those polled believe that the activities of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are aimed at the defense of her own interests and that of her entourage, some 4.2% said her activities are aimed at defense of interests of foreign states and some 23.9% believe that Yulia Tymoshenko works for the sake of national interests. 77.7% of the respondents are unsatisfied with the economic policy of Yulia Tymoshenko’s government. Some 71.8% believe that the incumbent government is not able to lead economics out of crisis and even change the situation in Ukraine to better; 18.1% of respondents do think the incumbent government can do that.[78][79]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yulia_Tymoshenko
http://ukrainetoday.blogspot.com/200...sident-in.html
Yushchenko voted worst President in Ukraine's history
Kyiv, April 13- Ukrainians say the country's third president, Viktor Yushchenko, whose term of office is to end late this or early next year, is the worst head of state since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
According to a poll conducted by TNS Ukraine, just 7% of Ukrainians rate Yushchenko the best president of the three, the others being Leonid Kuchma, who held the post from 1994 until 2005, and Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994).
A total of 21% said Kravchuk was the best, while 39% put Kuchma on top. Twenty-seven percent of respondents found difficulty answering the question and 6% refused to answer.
The poll was conducted March 6-14, its results were published on the pollster's website. A total of 1,200 people aged 16-75 were polled, with the statistical margin of error not exceeding 3%
It is worth highlighting this article which reflects accurately the state of support and lack of leadership provided by Victor Yushchenko, Ukraine's President, who was elected in 2004 following the so called "Orange Revolution".
The "Orange Revolution" has tuned sour with Yushchenko betraying the democratic values of those who supported his election to office.
The rate of decline in his support has been as dramatic as the conflict and division within Ukraine he has caused, most notably was his dismissal of Ukraine's parliament in 2007 which saw Ukraine paralysed by political conflict and division for seven months. His attempts to fuel the conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. His final act of betrayal when he attacked Yulia Tymoshenko accusing her position in relation to the Russian Georgian copnflict as an act of State Treason. Yushchenko then sought to remove Yulia Tymoshchenko from the office of Prime minister by again seeking to dismiss Ukraine's parliament in October 2008.
Yushchenko first betrayed the "Revolution" when he refused to share power and attacked the Socialist Party forcing them to withdraw from negotiations on the formation of a "Orange" governing coalition and the formation of a government lead by Viktor Yanukovych in 2006.
Yushchenko and his party Our Ukraine contined undermining their coalition partner Yulia Tymoshenko, by pursuing policies of division and opposing democratic reforms whilst pushing Ukraine towards joining NATO against the overwhelming majority of public opinion.
Yushchenko's consistent acts of betrayal and division has seen his support slump to such an extent that he now holds the world's record as the least supported head of state.
Recent polls have placed him below 3% and his if Parliamentary elections where held today his party Our Ukraine would obtain less then 2% support and would be denied representation.
The Polls are showing that most of Yushchenko's support has been transferred to young Yatseniuk but Ukraine remains bitterly divided as ever, another legacy of Yushchenko's betrayal and failed policies.
As a result Party of Region's leader, Victor Yanukovych - Yushchenko's opponent in the 2004 Presidential elections, is now in poll position to win both a Parliamentary and Presidential ballot.
Victor Yushchenko, who opposed holding simultaneous Parliamentary and early Presidential elections back in 2007 when he first unconstitutionally dismissed Ukraine's democratically elected Parliament, is now seeking revenge by advocting a fresh round of Parliamentary elections to held simultaneously with the next Presidential elections scheduled for October 25.
The polls show little change in the outcome other then handing controlling power to Party of Regions who would be the only main party able to form a coalition government with the support of either Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko, Yatseniuk's Party or the Communist Party. Lytyvn's Bloc (head by Ukraine's parliamentary speaker) will play a minor to non existent role in the formation of a new government
Our Ukraine and Victor Yushchenko will have no influence, such is the outcome of his betrayal to Ukraine which has taken its toll on Ukraine's economy and political stability.