European mediators will meet in Kiev Monday for another round of talks on Ukraine's disputed presidential election.
Spokesmen for Ukraine's outgoing president, Leonid Kuchma, made the announcement today (Saturday).
Mr. Kuchma has charged that agreements from previous talks about the disputed election have not been fulfilled and worsened the situation in the country.
The Supreme Court Friday ordered a new vote after invalidating the November 21st run-off results, which had Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych as the winner.
The pro-Russian prime minister said the decision was made under what he called pressure from the street. He will face Western-leaning opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko again on December 26th.
Tens of thousands of Yushchenko supporters rallied in Kiev and other cities in continuous protests over alleged fraud in the November run-off.
Also, parliament held an emergency session today (Saturday), but failed to pass measures sought by the opposition, such as those for preventing electoral fraud.
A spokeswoman in Kiev confirmed today (Saturday) that Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych will take part in a court-ordered repeat of the country's second-round presidential election, against opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko. Mr. Yanukovych is convinced he will win the Dec. 26 runoff vote, his spokeswoman says. Earlier, the prime minister contended the Supreme Court exceeding its authority by overturning last month's vote and ordering a new election.
Ukraine's Parliament set the new election date today. In its ruling Friday, the nation's Supreme Court had ordered a new ballot within three weeks.
The court's verdict that last month's vote was tainted by fraud was loudly cheered by tens of thousands of Mr. Yushchenko's supporters. They have been occupying Kiev's Independence Square for nearly two weeks.