Thousands of demonstrators have poured into the central square of the easternUkranian city of Donetsk, matching scenes in Independence Square in the capital Kiev. The main difference is that the people on the streets of Donetsk were strong supporters of disputed presidential winner Victor Yanukovich.

The crowds came out in force to show their approval of the regional parliament’s decision made earlier in the day to propose a referendum for January. The Donetsk assembly wanted voters to decide on whether Ukraine should be turned into a federation, separating the pro-Yanukovich east from the pro-Yuschenko west. The industrialised eastern Ukraine, the economic powerhouse of the country, is firmly behind Yanukovich’s pro-Russian policies.

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