Ukraine's opposition parties are holding a rally in Kiev in protest at what they describe as "fraudulent" parliamentary elections last month. The protesters say the much delayed vote-count is being rigged in favour of pro-government candidates. The authorities deny the claim, warning that police are ready to disperse the "illegitimate" rally in the capital. International observers say the election was marred by "abuse of power and the excessive role of money". The monitoring mission from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) say state resources were used to give the party of power an unfair advantage during the campaign, and note that President Viktor Yanukovych's chief rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is in prison and was barred from running. However, the mission adds that the actual process of voting on 28 October went smoothly. With nearly 100% of the votes counted, Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions (PR) looks on track to become the largest party, poised to have a majority in the new parliament with the support of its Communist allies and independent candidates. Thousands of opposition supporters are staging the protest rally in front of the election commission headquarters in central Kiev, amid a heavy presence of elite anti-riot police units. The demonstrators say the vote-count is being rigged in a number of disputed regions, where the opposition appeared to be winning.
