Ukraine looks ahead to a Yushchenko-led future

Natasha Lisova, Kiev

However Mr Yushchenko’s pro-Russia electoral rival, former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich, is to file an 800 volume appeal against the result that will delay the declaration of a winner.

The former prime minister said his allies would file the appeal to the Supreme Court in Kiev to demand “the annulment of the so-called rerun”.