| Opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko called on the government Friday to prevent any violence in this weekend's crucial presidential repeat vote, as the two campaigns rallied their supporters on the final day of campaigning. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia has not meddled in the affairs of ex-Soviet republics _ in a reference to Ukraine _ but accused other nations of having done so. "We haven't engaged in any behind-the-scenes policy-making on the post-Soviet space, and that, to some extent, limits instruments we can use to defend our interests ... unlike our partners which have used them actively," Putin told the State Council, made up of Cabinet members and provincial governors. Putin's blatant support of Yushchenko's rival, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, strained the Russian leaders' relations with the West. Putin has since said he is ready to work with Yuschenko if he wins. |