Communists Join Call for Kuchma Ouster

KIEV, Ukraine — Thousands of Ukrainian Communist Party members marched Thursday through this capital, adding their voices to calls for the resignation of beleaguered President Leonid D. Kuchma.

A coalition of nationalists, socialists and human rights activists has been pressing for Kuchma to step down after his alleged involvement in the murder of journalist and frequent critic Georgi Gongadze. Kuchma denies the allegations.

The Communist Party, the largest group in parliament, has stayed out of the demonstrations. It said it was demanding that Kuchma quit because of the country’s poverty.

“We are united by misfortune, tears and grief of many millions of people who are suffering from the current regime,” Communist leader Petro Symonenko said.