Ukraine's Supreme Court rejected a final appeal by the losing candidate in the country's disputed presidential poll, confirming Viktor Yushchenko as the winner. Mr Yushchenko's long and tension-filled drive to become Ukraine's president cleared its final hurdles before dawn, after deliberations inside the court that stretched to 2.30am. The court announced it had rejected the final appeal of the former prime minister, the Russian-leaning Viktor Yanukovich, who challenged the result of the re-run election held on December 26. "The court has concluded that the complaint should not be granted," read the ruling. Presiding Justice Anatoly Yarema said Mr Yanukovich's appeal was rejected because of insufficient evidence, but did not provide specifics of the court's deliberations. The re-run was held after weeks of campaigning by Mr Yushchenko's supporters who camped out in the centre of Kiev in what was dubbed the 'Orange Revolution'. They claimed the original election in November suffered widespread vote-rigging and electoral fraud. The verdict came only after government newspapers went to press with the election results, a move which under Ukrainian law means the inauguration date can be set. The decision clears the way for the Western -leaning victor to be inaugurated as president, which his aides say they hope will be held on Friday or Saturday.