Ukraine politics

While Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko challenges in court the election victory of her political rival, President-elect Viktor Yanukovych, he is seeking to bring down her government in parliament.

Tymoshenko on Friday argued her case before Ukraine's supreme administrative court, presenting what she said was evidence that the presidential runoff vote on February 7 was fraudulent.

She is seeking to stop Yanukovych's planned inauguration on February 25.

Tymoshenko said she would abide by the court's decision as long as it is fair.

"If everything is set up and studied objectively, I will accept the decision, which is the will of the people. But I cannot accept double standards,“ she told the court.

The court's ruling is expected within two to three days.

Difficult process

Meanwhile Yanukovych, who beat Tymoshenko in the runoff by just 3.5 percentage points, is preparing a no-confidence vote in parliament. If successful, it would force Tymoshenko's government to step down, but she could still stay on as caretaker prime minister for some time.

If Yanukovych's camp manages to form a new parliamentary coalition it will be able to take over, but the process involves lengthy and difficult negotiations.

To bring down Tymoshenko's government, Yanukovych's camp would need a simple parliamentary majority of 226 votes in favor of a no-confidence motion. That vote is expected to be held on March 2.

Yanukovych was denied victory in the 2004 presidential election after courts found evidence of electoral fraud and ordered a repeat of the runoff vote, which was won by Viktor Yushchenko.

This time, however, international observers from the OSCE found the elections to have been fair, transparent and professional.

ng/Reuters/AFP
Editor Chuck Penfold