Ukrainian presidential campaign in quotes Oct 11-17.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko returned to active campaigning after more than a month's absence due to illness. His opponents say he lied when he said the government tried to poison him. Officials bristled at Western exhortations to ensure a fair election, and President Kuchma spoke against trying to push through constitutional reform before the election. The following is a selection of quotes by presidential candidates and other Ukrainian public figures in the period 11-17 October:

Yushchenko's "poisoning"

I do not trust the prosecutor-general, because he is a man who can bury things without a trace. And I do not want this case to be buried without a trace. I will say my word when the time comes.

Yushchenko, 5 Kanal TV, 13 October

The investigation does not possess any information whatsoever that would give grounds to assume that deliberate actions were taken against Yushchenko to damage his health.

Prosecutor-General's Office, Interfax-Ukraine news agency, 13 October

It is clear that the political version of Viktor Yushchenko's grave illness is a big lie.

Journalist Dmitriy Kiselev, ICTV TV, 10 October

The Ukrainian public needs to know about the health [of presidential candidates] - whether they will be able to run the state.

Regions of Ukraine MP Valeriy Konovalyuk, UNIAN news agency, 15 …