Ukraine's key election 'rigged'

Ukraine's opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko has accused the authorities of rigging Sunday's fiercely fought presidential run-off. Mr Yushchenko urged his supporters to stage peaceful morning street protests. With 71% of the votes counted, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had won 49% of the votes against Mr Yushchenko's 47%, the electoral commission said. However, several exit polls had earlier showed pro-Western Mr Yushchenko ahead of the Moscow-backed prime minister. Ukraine's Central Electoral Commission chief Serhiy Kivalov urged all politicians "to calm down". "The CEC will act strictly in conformity with the law," Mr Kivalov told reporters. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of opposition supporters answered Mr Yushchenko's earlier rallying call to gather in Kiev's Independence Square to demand a fair count of the vote.