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Ukraine's Tymoshenko in poll vow Ukraine's Tymoshenko in poll vow
(about 3 hours later)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has vowed to challenge the results of the country's recent presidential elections in court. The defeated candidate in Ukraine's recent presidential election run-off, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, has vowed to challenge the result in court.
In her first public comments since Viktor Yanukovych was officially declared the winner, Mrs Tymoshenko said the ballot was rigged. In her first comments since Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner, Ms Tymoshenko alleged widespread fraud and said he was not legitimately elected.
Mr Yanukovych has called on his rival to abandon her protests and resign.Mr Yanukovych has called on his rival to abandon her protests and resign.
International observers gave the election a clean bill of health, saying Mr Yanukovych won by a margin of 3.48%. His margin of victory was only 3.48% in a poll that international monitors said was an impressive display of democracy.
"I want to clearly state: Yanukovych is not our president," Mrs Tymoshenko said in a live televised broadcast. "I want to clearly state: Yanukovych is not our president," Ms Tymoshenko said in a live televised broadcast.
"Whatever happens in future, he will never become the legitimately elected president of Ukraine.""Whatever happens in future, he will never become the legitimately elected president of Ukraine."
But she said she would not call people on to the streets to protest, as she had done after the 2004 election. Not going to court would mean giving up Ukraine to criminals without a fight Yulia Tymoshenko class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8506491.stm">Fears of instability in Ukraine
But she said she would not call people on to the streets to protest, as she had done after the 2004 presidential election.
"I will not call another Maidan [Independence Square demonstration] and will not allow public protests," she said."I will not call another Maidan [Independence Square demonstration] and will not allow public protests," she said.
Mrs Tymoshenko led the 2004 Orange Revolution, which ousted Mr Yanukovych, whose victory then was ruled fraudulent. Mr Yanukovych was pronounced the victor six years ago, only for the result to be overruled because of vote-rigging. The Orange Revolution eventually brought Ms Tymoshenko's erstwhile ally, President Viktor Yushchenko, to power.
'Proof'
The prime minister said more than a million votes, which she said were decisive to the outcome, were invalid.The prime minister said more than a million votes, which she said were decisive to the outcome, were invalid.
"With all this proof, I have taken the only possible decision: to challenge the results of the election in court. I will defend our state and the choice we made on the basis of legal documents," she said."With all this proof, I have taken the only possible decision: to challenge the results of the election in court. I will defend our state and the choice we made on the basis of legal documents," she said.
"Not going to court would mean giving up Ukraine to criminals without a fight."
On Wednesday, Mr Yanukovych demanded his rival resign as prime minister and go into opposition.
"I want to remind Ms Tymoshenko that the basis of democracy is the will of the people. Democratic leaders always accept the results of the elections. The country does not need a new crisis," he said.
The BBC's Daria Merkusheva in Kiev says Ukraine's Central Election Commission is expected to confirm Mr Yanukovych as president-elect early next week, after which the legal challenges are likely to start.
Ukraine has been in political deadlock for several years, undermining its ability to deal with a severe economic crisis. Analysts say a challenge by Mrs Tymoshenko would prolong the instability.
With Mrs Tymoshenko still heading the government, stalemate is likely to continue. Mr Yanukovych has said he wants to form a new coalition, and may try to call snap parliamentary elections.