Ukrainian traders claim mass US asylum

American diplomats have visited a town in northern Ukraine where 140 market traders have requested political asylum in the United States.

The traders, from the town of Chernihiv - the hometown of Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma - made their request last week.

They say that corruption, bureaucracy and interference from the local authorities make it impossible to do business in their local market.

After meeting the traders and local authorities, the American diplomats promised to make further visits.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service