Putin enters Ukrainian election row by attending army parade

A Soviet-style military parade shut down the streets of Kiev yesterday as Ukraine entered the final stretch of a tense election campaign marred by allegations of dirty tricks and intimidation tactics. The West-leaning opposition has accused the government of flooding the capital with uniformed soldiers to scare off their support and to use force against planned mass demonstrations in the event of electoral fraud. Watching the parade alongside the Prime Minister and presidential hopeful, Viktor Yanukovych, was Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader used the show of force as an occasion for some high-profile campaigning on behalf of the pro-Moscow candidate. The parade itself - to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ukraine's liberation from the Nazis - was brought forward by a week, without explanation, and overshadows the last 72 hours of the campaign. Supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the pro-Western democratic coalition, say they have a real chance of winning and that has prompted the military presence. "On the day of voting there will be several tens of thousands of men in uniforms near Kiev," said Mr Yushchenko, "or has the government even forgotten the date on which Kiev was liberated?" Mr Yushchenko is running neck and neck in the polls with Mr Yanukovych, the chosen successor of the incumbent, Leonid Kuchma, and the vote is seen as a watershed for Ukrainians. Most independent observers believe the opposition leader would win a fair election by a clear margin. Observers say the result will determine whether Kiev charts a course towards democracy and the West or goes down the more authoritarian route of Russia and Belarus.