Yushchenko victory certain

International observers gave their blessing to Sunday’s re-run of the presidential election, saying it had been much fairer than the Nov. 21 poll which Yanukovich won but which the Supreme Court quashed on the grounds of mass fraud.Yushchenko has promised to end rampant graft and reform the ex-Soviet state’s damaged economy.

He wants to align Ukraine with the West, fanning concerns in Russia that it will lose influence over a region where it has held sway for 300 years.

Western neighbour Poland, traditionally a rival but now a member of the European Union which Ukraine aspires to join, was the first country to congratulate Yushchenko.

The EU said the poll paved the way for stronger cooperation.‘‘For 14 years we have been independent. Now we have become free,’’ Yushchenko told supporters gathered overnight in Kiev’s Independence Square, site of more than two weeks of mass protests against November’s rigged election.

‘‘The people proved their power. They rebelled against probably the most cynical regime in eastern Europe.’’

With more than 99.8 percent of votes counted, election officials said Yushchenko had won 52.03 per cent against Yanukovich’s 44.16 per cent.

However, Yanukovich said he would challenge the result.

‘‘I will never recognise this defeat because there were violations of the constitution and of human rights in our country,’’ he told a news conference.

He said he had no confidence in the Supreme Court’s civil chamber which annulled his victory.

‘‘I will demand that our appeal, which is being prepared, be examined by the entire collegium of the Supreme Court of Ukraine. And that this should be done publicly.’’

The poll was widely praised in the West. US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the election appeared to have been full and free, calling it ‘‘a historic moment for democracy’’. —Reuters