Ukraine opposition in all-out strike call

The Ukrainian crisis deepened today as the opposition called for a national strike in protest against an "illegal" ballot.

There were reports of some workers walking out and protesters setting up road blocks.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko renewed a call for justice after election officials declared Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych president.

Both sides have warned that the country is on the brink of civil war and more than 200,000 people continue to protest on the streets of Kiev.

Mr Yushchenko has called for a general strike that would shut factories, shops and schools and bring the country's major transport arteries to a halt. The opposition party today also lodged an appeal at Ukraine's supreme court against the alleged election fraud.

Ukraine's Central Electoral Commission yesterday declared Mr Yanukovych president, saying that he had won 49.46 per cent of the vote against Mr Yushchenko's 46.61 per cent. However, several exit polls immediately after Sunday's voting suggested that Mr Yushchenko had a clear lead.

Pro-western Mr Yushchenko rejected the commission's declaration as the " latest crime" of the Ukrainian authorities.

Western election observers and the Ukrainian opposition have reported thousands of voting irregularities, including a near 100 per cent turnout in some pro-government strongholds.

Lech Walesa, who launched the Solidarity movement that led to the end of Communism in Poland, flew to Ukraine today to help to mediate. He said he hoped his experience in fighting to overthrow a Moscow-backed regime would be of use.

The US made a dramatic intervention, claiming it "cannot accept" Sunday's poll result as legitimate. In Washington, US secretary of state Colin Powell said Ukraine was at a "critical moment" and had to decide whether it was on the side of democracy.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw backed the US view. He said: "Our position is very clear. We do not believe the results as announced are legitimate. It's a very serious situation."

Tension grew as Russian president Vladimir Putin today congratulated Mr Yanukovich - who he backed throughout the elections.

The message coincided with Mr Putin's arrival in The Hague for a summit with European Union leaders, which has questioned the legitimacy of the poll and called for an official investigation.

Ukrainian pop star Ruslana Lezhychko, who won this year's Eurovision contest, announced she was going on hunger strike over the alleged election fraud.

Appearing before tens of thousands of Ukrainians in Kiev's Independence Square, she said she will starve herself "until justice is restored".

She added: "They are trying to trample our votes under their feet."