Approximately 200,000 supporters of Viktor Yushchenko's candidacy for Prime Minister of Ukraine marched on parliament today to protest what they claim are fraudulent election returns. Yushchenko's opponent, incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, was declared the winner in a run-off election despite exit polls that indicate Yushchenko was the winner.

Yunukovich favors a closer relationship between Ukraine and Russia while Yushchenko wants the former Soviet Republic to lean more closely with the west.

Many feared that the protests will turn violent and that the future of democracy in Ukraine is at stake.

'We are sliding toward the abyss. It is amoral and criminal to pretend nothing is happening in the country,' parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn told deputies during a debate inside parliament to discuss the crises. 'We must act in good time otherwise the people will decide on our behalf tomorrow.'

Yuschchenko was urging the protesters on. 'Our joint action will lead to political success. We are therefore now forming lines and moving toward parliament.' The line of demonstrators snaked two miles through the city.

Meanwhile, Yanukovich has all but declared himself the winner and appeared on national TV on Monday to denounce Yuschchenko and his supporters.

The United States has indicated that there will be problems if the election returns are not fully investigated. The European Union has already described the election as 'fraudulent.'

Meanwhile, security forces have indicated that they may use force to dispurse the crowd if the demonstrators don't stop their protests. The threat of violence has yet to stop the protests, however.

One student said she was certain that the future of the nation was at stake. 'I think about what will happen with Ukraine in the next 10 years,' she said. 'If a president appointed by the authorities will stay, I will be afraid to go in the streets.'