Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has rejected a demand for his resignation, after meeting leaders of three key opposition parties.

Following an all-night stand-off, three opposition deputies were finally admitted to see the president late on Wednesday morning.

Opposition leader Tymoshenko says Kuchma should resign

But although Mr Kuchma agreed to meet the leaders, his response to their demands remained firm.

President Kuchma is also under pressure from the United States to explain allegations that Ukraine broke UN sanctions on Iraq by supplying sophisticated radar equipment.

Communist leader Petro Simonenko said Mr Kuchma had told the deputies he would not resign or agree to early elections, and would not "bow to the demands of the people".

The group brought with them a resolution adopted at mass protests against Mr Kuchma held across the country last week.

Opposition bloc leader Yulia Tymoshenko said there would be psychological pressure on the president to make him implement the resolution.

"The president and his entourage are so scared by the situation inside Ukraine and the world's reaction to it that it is possible to press on and make Leonid Kuchma resign," she was quoted as saying by Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Crisis

The opposition accuses Mr Kuchma of worsening living standards and corruption.

President Kuchma faces a raft of accusations

They also say he was involved in the killing two years ago of an opposition journalist, Georgiy Gongadze.

Mr Kuchma denies the allegations.

A BBC regional analyst says that, with Mr Kuchma making clear he will not leave office until he has served the remaining two years of his term, a sense of acute crisis pervades Ukraine.

Mr Kuchma was re-elected in November 1999 to a second five-year term and has since seen his poll ratings plunge.

One poll last week suggested that 70% of the population would like him to step down.