"A Great Victory"

Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has congratulated supporters on winning "a great victory" after parliament passed wide-ranging reforms. He told cheering crowds in Kiev's Independence Square that electoral law changes had opened the way for him to be elected president on 26 December. The new poll will be a re-run of last month's run-off between Mr Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Mr Yanukovych's win was annulled amid claims of widespread fraud. The vote by Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday was the culmination of 17 days of protests by supporters of Mr Yushchenko in what has been dubbed the Orange Revolution. Lawmakers approved the reform bill by 402 votes to 21, with 19 abstentions.