Kuchma warns over Ukraine chaos

Yanukovych and Yushchenko are running neck and neck

Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has warned there will be "no revolution" on the eve of Sunday's run-off ballot to choose his successor.

Pro-Western opponent Viktor Yushchenko - who narrowly won the first voting round - has threatened mass protests if the second round result is falsified.

The capital, Kiev, is on high alert amid fears of disorder if Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych wins.

The US president called on Mr Kuchma to ensure free and fair elections.

We all know that revolutions are planned by dreamers and carried out by fanatics. And it is scoundrels who reap the benefits Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid Kuchma

On Saturday, Mr Kuchma - who is finishing his second consecutive term in office - gave a televised address to the nation.

"The authorities will not allow the democratic process, which this election is, to turn into undemocratic violence," he said.

"There will be no revolution, but elections worthy of a European country in the 21st Century."

President Kuchma, who backs Mr Yanukovych, has implied that the opposition is threatening to take power by force.

"The authorities will never allow an aggressive minority to dictate political logic. We are already hearing calls for violence," Mr Kuchma said.

"I predicted that these would be the dirtiest elections in Ukraine's post-independence history and unfortunately I was not wrong, but it is not the government which made them dirty, it is those who used methods which we never used.

"We all saw who did what in this election, who staged rallies and who each day did everything to improve the people's prosperity," Mr Kuchma added.

Thousands of extra police and soldiers have been deployed in Kiev alone, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in the Ukrainian capital says.

'Dirty tricks'

Mr Yushchenko came out of the first round of the election on 31 October with 39.87% of the vote, compared to Mr Yanukovych's 39.32%.

International observers criticised the conduct of the first round.

ELECTION RIVALS Viktor Yanukovych: Aged 54 Imprisoned twice in his youth Former governor of industrial Donetsk region Raised pensions and public sector pay before election Would make Russian second official language and allow dual citizenship Viktor Yushchenko: Aged 50 An economist and former central banker Has an American wife Promises to fight corruption, create five million jobs and pursue free market reforms Would seek deeper relations with the Europe and the West Q&A: Ukraine votes

Since then, Mr Yushchenko, prime minister between 1999 and 2001, has continued to complain his supporters are being intimidated.

He has claimed to have been the victim of dirty tricks, including an alleged assassination attempt when a lorry repeatedly swerved towards his car.

Mr Yushchenko has also urged people to gather in Kiev's main square after the polls close on Sunday to carry out their own count.

His critics portray him as an American puppet who will do anything to gain power, including inciting civil unrest.

Moscow has made it clear it is fully behind Mr Yanukovych.

Both the US and the European Union say future relations with Ukraine depend on Sunday's vote being conducted fairly.

"You play a central role in ensuring that Ukraine's election is democratic and free of fraud and manipulation," US President George W Bush wrote in a letter to Mr Kuchma.

"A tarnished election, however, will lead us to review our relations with Ukraine."