UKRAINE: Workers in Ukraine's industrial heartland of Donetsk, hard at work in plants and collieries, treated with derision any suggestion that an opposition strike over a contested election could paralyse the country.
Home to coalmines, car assembly and metals plants, the Russian-speaking Donetsk region produces much of Ukraine's wealth and is the home region of Prime Minister Mr Viktor Yanukovich.
In Soviet days, Donetsk region was portrayed as the foundry of communism, the grimy Donetsk worker as hero of the age. Many, especially the older generation, still like to see it that way.
Locals vowed to carry on working to "feed the people" and ignore calls by opposition leader Mr Viktor Yushchenko to join a general strike to reverse the poll outcome.
Plans were under way to launch the strike, with heavy backing likely in Mr Yushchenko's strongholds in Kiev and nationalist western Ukraine. But action was so far limited to a few protesters blocking highways.
Mr Alexander Levenzon, spokesman for car assembly plant Azovmash, scoffed at tales of strike action in the nationalist west. In the post-Soviet era, industry there had wilted.
"It is just absurd when they show 200 people from Chernivtsi stopping work at a car assembly plant," he said, referring to a town on the Romanian border. "In western Ukraine industry is practically dead."
The election has highlighted a divide between Ukraine's east and west. The Russian-speaking east solidly backed pro-Moscow Mr Yanukovich, a former governor in Donetsk region, while the Ukrainian-speaking west supported Mr Yushchenko.
"Our people say they want to work to feed their families. We are having a normal working day. We never protest, as we have to feed the whole of Ukraine," Mr Levenzon said.
In Donetsk, about 400 demonstrators shouting "No to extremism! Yes to peace and harmony!" gathered in Lenin square.
The aim was to support Mr Yanukovich against accusations that the poll was rigged in his favour and present at least a token counterweight to protests in Kiev and other cities.
But most dispersed when Mr Yanukovich was declared President by election officials despite appeals by Western states to hold back on any formal proclamation of results.
"The declaration of the results restored our enthusiasm, gave us joy and a feeling of fulfilling our duty," said Mr Igor Strelchenko, a senior trade unionist.
Some miners headed for Kiev to show their support. Most decided to stay put and carry on with work.
"I think that both candidates need to sit down and hold talks to relieve the tension," said Mr Sergei Pustovit, a transport worker at Donetskugol coalmine.