Yuschenko announces dawn of new era
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.
Mr Kirpa's body was found in his country house just outside the Ukrainian capital Kiev, spokesman Eduard Zanyuk said.
Local media speculated it was a suicide, but officials did not confirm it. The Unian news agency reported that a gun was found near the body.
Following huge support from the West and the lifting of government censorship of the media, Mr Yushchenko got 14.8 million votes, or 52%, putting him 8% ahead of his rival's 12.4 million votes in Sunday's poll.
The OECD, the European Parliament and observers from Russia all agreed that overall the vote had been free and fair with relatively minor infringements.
Five weeks ago the Supreme Court set aside November's vote after observers produced evidence of massive fraud that gave the victory to Mr Yanukovich.
The roles were reversed yesterday when Mr Yanukovich announced he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and threatened a popular revolution. His supporters claim 1.5 million votes cast in western and central Ukraine for citizens abroad were fraudulent, while 1.5 million elderly people were unable to vote.
However, spirits were high among Yushchenko supporters and there were fireworks and music again last night in Maidan in Kiev, popularly known as Orange Square, which has been occupied for two months by Mr Yushchenko's supporters and their trademark orange colour.
Earlier Mr Yushchenko told them, "We have been independent for 14 years but now we are free ... It is fashionable to be a citizen of Ukraine. It is stylish. It is beautiful. Three or four months ago few people knew where Ukraine was. Today the whole world starts its day thinking what is happening in Ukraine."
He will need to keep up their morale over the coming days as they wait for the court to rule and hope there is no violence or interference from Russia. His promise of bringing Ukraine closer to the EU took a step closer yesterday as members of the European Parliament promised to fight for closer relations.
One of the dozen all-party EP observers, MEP Simon Coveney, said they agreed the relationship must be reviewed. "At present, it is the same as the EU has with Morocco and Algeria. We need to reconsider this and have a relationship that recognises our close links and is more like what we have with the Balkans."
The prime minister has said he will resign and go into opposition and Mr Yushchenko has begun working on putting together a new government. His choice of premier will be closely watched, especially by the tycoon clans that control the economy.
He has also promised to review the privatisation of a number of former state assets including the largest steel works sold for a knockdown price.
Mr Yushchenko's team yesterday said they will challenge changes to the constitution that will transfer powers from the president to the parliament.
