Kiev: Russia-friendly candidate Viktor
Yanukovych held a narrow lead today in a presidential election
that seemed likely to spawn a court challenge from his
opponent.
There was no sign, however, that Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko was following up on her vow to bring protesters
onto the streets in the event of defeat.
A Yanukovych victory could restore much of Moscow's
influence in a country that has laboured to build bridges to
the West. It would close a chapter in the country's political
history that was been defined by the 2004 pro-democracy Orange
protests.
Some Ukrainians fear he could bring a retreat from
Western democratic reforms and the muzzling of media and
opposition parties.
Central Election Commission data showed Yanukovych
garnering 48.23 percent to Tymoshenko's 46.14 per cent, with
about 5 percent of ballots remaining to be counted.
Yanukovych has claimed victory and his team kicked off
festivities by calling on the prime minister to stay true to
her claim of being a democrat and admit defeat. Around 5,000
of his supporters assembled today morning near a stage in Kiev
adorned with the slogan "Ukrainians for a Fair Election,"
claiming to defend the results of the election.
Supporters danced in the street as a series of day-long
concerts got under way despite frigid temperatures and
flurries of snow.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 08, 2010, 23:02