Yanukovich claims victory

Ukraine's president-elect presses rival to concede, quit as premier

KIEV: Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich pressed rival Yulia Tymoshenko to concede defeat yesterday after a narrow victory in a presidential election that could tilt the ex-Soviet state back towards Moscow.

Adding to pressure on the fiery Tymoshenko, international monitors declared the election an "impressive display" of democracy and urged her to shake hands with her opponent.