Ukraine opposition in new standoff

Armed with a ruling from the Supreme Court that invalidated the November 21 poll as riddled with fraud, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko refused to vote for constitutional changes that would dilute the powers of the presidency.

Seen as likely as win the new election against his struggling rival, pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, Yushchenko was defiant before a massed crowd of supporters in Kiev's central Indep-endence Square late Saturday.

"We agreed to pass political reforms after the election. The electoral process is not over. Righ| now we have to talk about the election, the election is the theme of the day," Yuschchenko said.

"We're being offered constitutional reform, we are given a document that doesn't have anything to do with the election - is that an honest dialogue?" he added.