Yanukovych claims election victory
Kiev (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The pro-Russian leader of the opposition Viktor Yanukovich has repeatedly stated that he had won the presidential elections held yesterday, but the gap with his rival, Yulia Timoshenko is declining as counting of votes continue.
According to the latest results, Yanukovich has won 48.67% of the results and the Timoshenko 45.66%, with 80% of the votes counted.
Yanukovich, during a television interview, has said his rival "should accept defeat." For her part, Timoshenko has indicated that her group is conducting a "parallel count," that it would win a few places. Timoshenko has already promised that if fraud is discovered, there will be a new more decided orange revolution.
Polls suggest that Yanukovich will win by at least 3 points. His victory would be a return to the big arena in Ukraine after the 2004 election which he won, but by fraud. Because of this the Ukrainian population took to the streets, giving rise to the so-called "Orange Revolution" that led to the victory of Timoshenko and Vladimir Yushchenko.
The mandate of Yushchenko, however, was marked by enormous economic difficulties and constant quarrels with Russia. Many Ukrainians are disillusioned and want to return to a privileged relationship with Russia. Timoshenko, while stating a need to improve relations with Moscow, gives priority to relations with the European Union.
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