Yushchenko celebrates victory

Western-leaning reformer Viktor Yushchenko’s fight to become Ukraine’s president cleared its final hurdles before dawn today when government newspapers printed election results and the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the losing candidate.

After deliberations that stretched until 2.30am, the court announced it had rejected the appeal of Viktor Yanukovych, the former prime minister who was seen as likely to bring Ukraine closer into Russia’s sphere of influence.