PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has urged Ukrainian demonstrators to keep fighting for their rights following disputed presidential elections.
CNN reported Wednesday that Havel, once one of communist Eastern Europe's leading dissidents, was backing the opposition's cause and had called on them to show strength and fortitude in pursuing their aims.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Kiev in recent days calling for a recount of ballots in the weekend elections.
Preliminary results appeared to hand a small victory to hardliner Viktor Yanukovich over the pro-western candidate, Viktor Yushchenko.
However, the opposition has said the vote was rigged. The United States and the European Union have also expressed grave concerns over the conduct of the election.
On Tuesday, Yushchenko took a symbolic oath of office for the presidency.
The outgoing president, Leonid Kuchma, has urged the two sides to reach a compromise.
