(Continued from page 22)

• MOSCOW (AP) -- Moscow is ready for a direct dialogue with Ukraine's new president and doesn't need any Western mediation, Russia's foreign minister said Monday.
• Sergey Lavrov said Russia has a positive view on Ukraine's presidential vote and is ready to deal with billionaire candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko, who holds a commanding lead, according to early returns.
• Lavrov said that Russia noted Poroshenko's statements about the importance of normalizing ties with Moscow and the need to establish a dialogue with eastern regions, where pro-Russia insurgents have seized government buildings and fought government troops.
• He said that "we are ready for dialogue with Kiev representatives, with Petro Poroshenko." He added that "we don't need any mediators," in a reference to a possible role of the United States and the European Union in such talks.
• With votes from 60 percent of precincts counted early Monday, Poroshenko was leading the Ukrainian elections with about 54 percent in the field of 21 candidates. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was running a distant second with 13 percent.
• ___

• BANGKOK (AP) -- Bolstered by a royal endorsement to run the country after last week's coup, Thailand's junta leader warned Monday against mounting opposition to the takeover, ordering Thais not to cause trouble, not to criticize, not to protest -- or else face a return to the "old days" of street violence.
• Dressed in a crisp white military uniform, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said he had seized power to restore order after seven months of violent confrontations and political turmoil between the now-ousted government and demonstrators who had called repeatedly for the army to intervene.
• "I'm not here to argue with anyone. I want to bring everything out in the open and fix it," Prayuth said in his first news conference since taking power last Thursday.
• "Everyone must help me," he said, before adding: "Do not criticize, do not create

(Continued on page 24)