Yushchenko Win Announced; Ukraine to Withdraw Troops from Iraq

Yesterday, the Central Election Commission certified Viktor Yushchenko as the winner of the re-vote of the runoff on Dec. 26; former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said he would challenge the certification in the Ukraine Supreme Court, but previously acknowledged that he did not expect the court to overturn the re-vote results. The court, meanwhile, has dismissed all pending Yanukovych appeals, but apparently the losing candidate could file another round after the CEC announcement on Monday. Meanwhile, not waiting for the new presidential administration, outgoing President Leonid Kuchman announced that Ukraine will withdraw its 1,600 troops from Iraq; Ukraine has the fourth-largest contingent of troops in the coalition. Eight Ukrainian troops were killed in an ambush over the weekend.