Yushchenko boost as court halts election result

UKRAINE’S highest court yesterday blocked the inauguration of the country’s Moscow-backed prime minister as president, giving a fresh impetus to his liberal opponent who has led street protests to overturn his election.

The supreme court rejected official publication of results that showed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich had beaten Viktor Yushchenko in a run-off election on Sunday.

The ruling effectively stopped Mr Yanukovich being sworn in as head of state. The West-leaning Mr Yushchenko, who says he was robbed of victory by electoral fraud, hailed the ruling as a victory.