02/05/2001 | Broker

Associated Press

Sunday February 4 5:59 PM ET
Ukrainians Rally Against President


KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Hundreds of protesters demonstrated against Ukraine's leadership on Sunday, painting slogans on fences and calling for President Leonid Kuchma to step down as political tension grew.

Supports of both left-wing and right-wing political factions took part in the rally. Another demonstration is planned for Tuesday.

The protests are part of a growing distress over allegations that Kuchma had a role in the disappearance in September of a journalist who criticized the government and crusaded against corruption.

Journalists and some legislators said Heorhiy Gongadze was most likely the victim of a politically motivated attack, and authorities say a headless body found in November was probably his.

Audio tapes recorded by a former presidential bodyguard and distributed by an opposition legislator purportedly captured Kuchma and security aides discussing taking action against Gongadze.

Kuchma, who was elected to a second five-year term as president of the former Soviet republic in 1999, has denied he issued orders to silence the journalist.

Sunday's rally was held next to a tent camp opposition supporters set up in December. Authorities later encircled the camp with a high fence, and protesters painted anti-Kuchma slogans on it.