Gorbachev sees stable Ukraine after opposition election win

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2004

MOSCOW (AFP) — Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev said he did not expect the "breakup" of Ukraine after the weekend election victory for opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.

"Even though some of his followers have extremist views, Yushchenko will show wisdom and not allow a breakup," he told the Interfax news agency.

With more than 90 percent of voting precincts counted after Sunday's presidential runoff, West-leaning Yushchenko had a clear lead over his rival Viktor Yanukovich, who was backed by Russia.

The vote has divided the former Soviet republic between its Ukrainian-speaking west, which backed Yushchenko, and the Russian-speaking east which largely supported Yanukovich.

However Gorbachev, who led the the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991,...