Ukraine PM to challenge poll result

Yulia Tymoshenko says her rival’s victory in presidential run-off was not legitimate.

Ukraine elections
Yanukovych was declared winner by the election panel with 48.95 per cent of the vote [GALLO/GETTY]

But she said she would not call on her supporters to take to the streets in protest.

Ukraine’s central election commission said on Wednesday that Yanukovych had won 48.95 per cent of the vote in the presidential poll, compared to Tymoshenko’s 45.47 per cent.

Although official, the results are still preliminary and must be formally certified by the commission this month.

Tymoshenko’s team has claimed widespread violations took place during voting, particularly in Yanukovych’s eastern Ukraine strongholds, but international observers hailed the vote as a fair and clean.

Source: News Agencies