Yuschenko announces dawn of new era

VIKTOR Yushchenko's triumphant announcement of a new democratic era in Ukraine was overshadowed last night by the mysterious death of a cabinet minister and the refusal of his opponent to accept the result.

The euphoria of Mr Yushchenko's orange revolution supporters was short-lived as Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich said he will challenge the results in the country's Supreme Court.

Elsewhere, Transport Minister Heorhiy Kirpa was found dead with a gunshot wound. Opposition figures had claimed Mr Kirpa allocated trains to ferry Yanukovich supporters to vote at multiple polling stations in last month's ballot that was annulled by the Supreme Court following widespread allegations of fraud.