2/9/2010 5:33 AM ET
(RTTNews) -
As official declaration of Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych's victory in Ukraine's presidential election was awaited, his poll rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's supporters said they would contest in court the conduct of the presidential election which international monitors described free and fair.
Media quoted Elena Shustik, deputy leader of Tymoshenko's bloc, as saying it would challenge results at some polling stations and seek a recount.
With more than 99% of votes counted, Yanukovych has ensured victory securing 48.83% votes against Tymoshenko's 45.59%. votes.
Yanukovych, who is also a former Prime Minister, called upon his successor to quit, but she refused and told reporters that her team was conducting a "parallel count" and urged her supporters to "fight for every result, every document, every vote."
Tymoshenko's campaign managers have alleged vote-rigging and efforts to block their representatives from taking seats on election boards in Yanukovych's strongholds.
However, it seems to be challenging the outcome in a peaceful manner as no street protests have so far been called.
International observers say they detected no serious faults in Sunday's polling.
Joao Soares, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said the election was an "impressive display of democracy" and called upon politicians to honor the outcome.
The election was extended to a run-off after none of the 18 candidates could garner 50% of the votes required for an outright victory in the first round of polls held on January 17.
Viktor Yushchenko, who became Ukraine's President successfully leading the Orange Revolution in 2005, was among the candidates eliminated.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko were allies during the mass street protests that swept the pro-Western coalition to power. But they have been at odds since 2008.
Yanukovich's Party of the Regions is allied to the Kremlin's United Russia party, and the 59-year-old former mechanic has pledged to seek better relations with Moscow, as Ukraine transits Russian natural gas to other parts of Europe.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com