Yushchenko confirmed Ukraine president

Ukraine's Central Election Commission formally declared yesterday that liberal Viktor Yushchenko won last month's presidential election with 51.99 per cent of the vote, paving the way for him to take power. "The Central Election Commission declares...

Ukraine's Central Election Commission formally declared yesterday that liberal Viktor Yushchenko won last month's presidential election with 51.99 per cent of the vote, paving the way for him to take power.

"The Central Election Commission declares Viktor Yushchenko elected president of Ukraine," Commission chief Yaroslav Davydovych said.

Mr Yushchenko's Moscow-backed opponent, former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich won 44.2 per cent.

He has contested the poll, which was held after hundreds of thousands of Yushchenko supporters protested against an earlier November vote, saying it had been rigged in Mr Yanukovich's favour.

The Supreme Court declared the election rigged and ordered a re-run.

Mr Yanukovich's repeated challenges of the December 26 election led to two weeks of political limbo, and Mr Yushchenko said the delay was "torturing the nation".

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