OTTAWA, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. President Bush said Tuesday Poland's president will lead a delegation to Ukraine to press a negotiated settlement to the country's election crisis.
Bush, speaking at a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, said he was told of the mission in a telephone call with Aleksander Kwasniewski.
Kwasniewski told him the delegation would include a representative from the European Union and would urge both parties in the dispute to talk and find a "legal, peaceful solution" to the crisis that also preserves the country's territorial integrity.
"Our common goal is to see the will of the Ukrainian people prevail," Bush said.
Ukraine, a former Soviet Republic, exploded in turmoil this month when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to support opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who lost a presidential run-off election to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Yuschenko and international observers called the balloting fraudulent.
Yuschenko from the western portion of Ukraine, favors closer ties to the West, while Yanukovych, from Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, wants closer relations with Russia.
Yanukovych's supporters have threatened possible secession if the balloting is overturned.
Bush thanked Kwasniewski for his lead in trying to help resolve the crisis.
