Ukraine: Elections or Emergency Rule?

[David Guyatt]

Just to prove us wrong, the BBC strike!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8505397.stm

Ukraine awaits Tymoshenko's move



Ukraine is waiting for Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to either contest results from Sunday's presidential election, or accept defeat and quit.

Pro-Moscow opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych appears to have narrowly won the poll, which monitors have praised.

But she has stayed tight-lipped amid calls by international observers for a peaceful transition of power.

Mrs Tymoshenko is expected to hold a news conference later, after twice postponing addressing media on Monday.

"For everyone in Ukraine, this election was a victory," the observers, led by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said in a statement.

ANALYSIS
Richard Galpin, BBC News, Kiev
Will Yulia Tymoshenko accept the election result or not?

Will she or won't she pursue her political ambitions through the courts or in protest action on the streets?

It is not often that the woman with the famous golden braid, whose glamour permeated the Orange Revolution five years ago, retreats into the shadows and maintains a strict silence.

But this is a moment of truth for her and she has a tough set of options.

Mrs Tymoshenko, 49, accused her rival of foul play on Sunday evening, but did not repeat an earlier threat to call her supporters out on to the streets in a repeat of the 2004 Orange Revolution that thrust her to power.

The BBC's Richard Galpin in Kiev says there are very few who believe Mrs Tymoshenko could muster any serious number of protestors to back her cause.

And she is under pressure to make a decision sooner rather than later, he added.

Mr Yanukovych was a presidential candidate in the 2004 election, but was swept aside when the vote was found to have been rigged in his favour.

On Monday, his supporters gathered in front of the Central Election Commission in victory, but also to protest about the failure of Mrs Tymoshenko to accept defeat and resign as prime minister.

WHY UKRAINE MATTERS
Russian Black Sea fleet based in Sevastopol, Crimea
Most Europe-bound Russian gas piped through Ukraine
Large ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking minority in Crimea and industrialised east
Strong nationalist, pro-Western sentiment in west
Aspirations for EU and Nato membership, though latter strongly opposed by Russia
The EU foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, said the EU was prepared to work with the new president.

"The European Union remains committed to deepening the relationship with Ukraine and supporting it in implementing its reform agenda.

"It looks forward to working with the new president to this end."

With more than 99% of votes counted, Mr Yanukovych was estimated to be ahead on some 48.83% of the vote, while Mrs Tymoshenko had around 45.59%.

Incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko lost in the first round of the election last month, coming in fifth place.