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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

President taps rival for prime minister

The Spokesman-Review

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said today he is nominating his former Orange Revolution foe, Viktor Yanukovych, for prime minister, insisting the decision would help unite the divided nation but acknowledging it might cause confusion.

The decision puts an end to four months of political uncertainty sparked by parliamentary elections in which no party won a majority.

Yushchenko made the announcement in an early morning address, two hours after the constitutional deadline formally passed for him to decide on Yanukovych’s candidacy. He said the decision was made after Yanukovych agreed to sign a memorandum on national unity that preserves the president’s foreign and domestic policies.

OAXACA, Mexico

Protesting women seize TV station

About 500 women banging spoons against pots and pans seized a state-run television station and broadcast a homemade video Wednesday that showed police kicking protesters out of Oaxaca’s main square last month.

The women took control of Oaxaca’s Channel 9 station Tuesday and held employees for about six hours before releasing them. It was unclear how long the siege would last and police were nowhere to be seen near the station Wednesday.

The standoff is the latest by demonstrators who accuse Gov. Ulises Ruiz of rigging his 2004 election victory and violently repressing opposition groups.

Tensions have been on the rise since June, when state police attacked a demonstration of striking teachers occupying the historic central plaza and demanding a wage increase.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

Chris may be year’s first hurricane

Tropical Storm Chris swept through the eastern Caribbean on Wednesday, forcing cruise ships to change course and tourists to evacuate small islands off the coast of Puerto Rico as it threatened to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.

The storm had top sustained winds of 60 mph as it moved west-northwest past Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

A hurricane watch was issued in the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was generally moving toward the west-northwest at 8 mph, forecasters reported.Forecasters said it was likely to strengthen and could hit anywhere from south of Cuba to Florida by late this weekend.