Ukraine edged a little closer towards a break-up today as a powerful eastern region backing the Moscow-backed prime minister in a disputed election for president set a December referendum on autonomy.
The decision, taken at a rally near the Russian border, raised the temperature in a national feud between backers of Prime Minister Mr Viktor Yanukovich and his liberal opposition rival Mr Viktor Yushchenko over the results of a run-off election.
In Warsaw, Polish President Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski, a pivotal regional figure who has credibility on both sides in Ukraine, said a break-up was a real threat. He said Mr Yushchenko was likely to become next president.
Mr Yanukovich, attending a packed meeting in Severodonetsk, did not endorse the decision by delegates to a regional conference from Russian-speaking parts of the east and south in favour of a December referendum "to determine the region's status."
Asked whether he supported the idea of a referendum on autonomy, Mr Yanukovich replied: "No." But he said mass protests by pro-Yushchenko demonstrators paralysing the capital Kiev had pushed Ukraine to the edge of disaster. "Today we are on the brink of catastrophe. There is one step to the edge," he declared, urging supporters not to take any radical action that would lead to bloodshed.
In Kiev, Mr Yushchenko, addressing tens of thousands of his supporters, accused authorities of playing "the dangerous card of separatism."
Those who are calling for separatism are committing crimes and will definitely receive severe punishment," he declared.
The spectre of break-up has been on the lips of Ukraine's leaders since the crisis erupted, underscoring the longstanding divide between the nationalist west, supporting Mr Yushchenko, and the industrial Russian-speaking east solidly behind the premier.
As the mass street rallies by supporters from both camps continued, the country's outgoing president, Mr Leonid Kuchma, reported little progress behind the scenes to work out a compromise.
Mr Yanukovich was officially declared winner of the November 21st run-off, triggering the protests in Kiev and western parts by supporters of Mr Yushchenko who says he was robbed of the election by cheating.
Passions rose after parliament, in a symbolic vote yesterday, declared the election invalid, noting widespread fraud in the vote. Parliament cannot overturn the election result but it did boost Mr Yushchenko's bid to force a fresh poll.
Ukraine's Supreme Court has also blocked Mr Yanukovich's inauguration until it has considered a complaint by Mr Yushchenko about alleged electoral irregularities.