Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Report: Ukraine Opposition Leader Takes Oath


Yushchenko’s defiance could cost him whatever legitimacy he has.

-Am


Updated 10:43 AM ET November 23, 2004


KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko took a symbolic presidential oath of office in Ukraine's parliament chamber Tuesday, defiantly claiming power as tens of thousands of his supporters massed outside.

Yushchenko approached the podium and took the oath after a special parliamentary session had officially ended, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.

Some 191 lawmakers had gathered for the special session to consider an opposition request to vote no-confidence in the Central Election Commission and declare the official results of Sunday's run-off election between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych invalid. Support from at least 226 members of the 450-seat parliament was needed for the motion to succeed.

Yushchenko had earlier claimed victory in the runoff, even though the commission declared Yanukovych the winner. The opposition has said the election was rigged.

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