Ukraine's court considers Yanukovych appeal

Losing presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych appealed the results of last month's election to Ukraine's Supreme Court, arguing that the election be declared invalid because of massive fraud, a court spokeswoman said Wednesday. Lianna Shlyaposhnikova said a three-judge panel will consider Yanukovych's appeal Thursday. The court already has rejected other minor appeals, but this is the first to address the election in its entirety, asking that the vote in the country's 225 districts be invalidated. Preliminary results from the Dec. 26 election show opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko winning a sound victory. Yanukovych's campaign manager Taras Chornovil said Tuesday's filing was just an "intermediate" appeal, and the main challenge will be submitted only after the Central Election Commission announces final results. Yanukovych will ask the court to declare that it is "impossible to establish the result of the election" due to massive fraud, Chornovil said.