Pro-Yanukovich meeting proposes to study possibility of holding referendum on setting up "Southeastern Republic"

A meeting of people's deputies held in eastern Ukrainian city of North Donetsk on Sunday proposed to study the possibility of holding a referendum on setting up a "Southeastern Republic" , Ukraine's national news agency Ukrinform reported on Sunday evening.

Around 3500 people's deputies from 14 provinces and one autonomous republic in eastern Ukraine took part in the meeting to explore solutions to the current election standoff.

The news agency said the meeting unanimously passed a resolution, which asserted that the top agenda is to set up a trans-regional autonomous alliance.

In order to enhance the leadership of the alliance, the meeting planed to set up a coordination commission, whose task is to study the proposals put forward by the meeting, said the resolution.

According to Ukrinform, the proposals include the possibility of holding a referendum on setting up a "Southeastern Republic".

Ukraine has 24 provinces, one autonomous republic and one municipality. Compared with his rival Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has dominant influence in the country's 14 eastern provinces and one autonomous republic.

Source: Xinhua