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Tymoshenko bloc to contest result Tymoshenko bloc to contest result
(30 minutes later)
Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc has said it will contest in court the conduct of the Ukrainian presidential election she appears to have narrowly lost.Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc has said it will contest in court the conduct of the Ukrainian presidential election she appears to have narrowly lost.
Deputy leader Elena Shustik said the bloc would contest results at some polling stations and ask for a recount, Russia's Interfax news agency reports. One official said it would contest results in some areas and seek recounts while another reportedly accused Viktor Yanukovych's party of "falsification".
Another bloc official accused Viktor Yanukovych's party of "falsification", Reuters news agency says. Mrs Tymoshenko has not spoken in public but reportedly told allies she would "never" accept Mr Yanukovych's win.
However, foreign monitors have praised the conduct of the election.However, foreign monitors have praised the conduct of the election.
With more than 99% of votes counted after Sunday's poll, Mr Yanukovych was estimated to be ahead on some 48.83% of the vote, while Mrs Tymoshenko had around 45.59%.With more than 99% of votes counted after Sunday's poll, Mr Yanukovych was estimated to be ahead on some 48.83% of the vote, while Mrs Tymoshenko had around 45.59%.
Mrs Tymoshenko, who is prime minister, has not made any public statement since Sunday night and cancelled two news conferences. Yanukovych supporters have been gathering in Kiev in anticipation of the announcement of the full election results.
But Ukrainian media have quoted her as telling a meeting with her party on Monday that she would "never" accept the legitimacy of Mr Yanukovych as president.
Meanwhile Yanukovych supporters have been gathering in Kiev in anticipation of the announcement of the full election results.
'Cynical violation''Cynical violation'
Ms Shustik was quoted as saying that the bloc would "challenge the results at certain polling-stations and seek a recount". Olena Shustik, a deputy leader of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, said the bloc would "challenge the results at certain polling-stations and seek a recount at those stations".
The bloc had not yet decided, she added, whether it would pursue a third round of voting. In a statement published earlier on the bloc's website, she had said the vote in eastern and southern Ukraine had been "distorted because of fraud".
In Ukraine's parliament, bloc member Serhiy Sobolev told MPs: "Voting day displayed a cynical violation of Ukrainian law by the teams of Yanukovych, pressure on the electors and a broad arsenal of falsification by the Regions Party [of Viktor Yanukovych]. Viktor Yanukovych is being given a narrow but clear lead
In Ukraine's parliament, bloc member Serhiy Sobolev was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling MPs: "Voting day displayed a cynical violation of Ukrainian law by the teams of Yanukovych, pressure on the electors and a broad arsenal of falsification by the Regions Party [of Viktor Yanukovych].
"Consequently, the Tymoshenko bloc announces that we will defend in the courts our right, and the rights of our citizens, to honest and transparent elections.""Consequently, the Tymoshenko bloc announces that we will defend in the courts our right, and the rights of our citizens, to honest and transparent elections."
However, there was no mention of calling street protests, Reuters notes.However, there was no mention of calling street protests, Reuters notes.
Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda daily quoted Mrs Tymoshenko as telling her party: "I will never recognise the legitimacy of Yanukovych's victory with such elections." Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda daily quoted Mrs Tymoshenko as telling her party on Monday: "I will never recognise the legitimacy of Yanukovych's victory with such elections."
She had, the paper said, instructed her lawyers to prepare to contest the electoral results in court.She had, the paper said, instructed her lawyers to prepare to contest the electoral results in court.
However, the paper added that some members of her bloc disagreed with her, calling instead for her to acknowledge defeat, step down as prime minister and move into opposition.However, the paper added that some members of her bloc disagreed with her, calling instead for her to acknowledge defeat, step down as prime minister and move into opposition.