Ukraine president defies calls to resign

President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine, in a national television address, has rejected mounting pressure for him to resign.

Mr Kuchma said he had been elected by the people, and would not accept anyone using force to demand a change of power.

The speech comes after protests by tens of thousands of Ukrainians demanding he step down before the end of his current term in 2004.

The Ukrainian president accused opposition leaders of sabotage in boycotting parliament.

They say they won't take part until there is a debate on the political situation.

Correspondents say Mr Kuchma has been tainted by scandal and accusations, which he denies, that he ordered the murder of the opposition journalist Georgy Gongadze.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service