Yanukovych appeals election loss

KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych filed a complaint Friday with the Supreme Court over the outcome of the presidential election he lost.

Yanukovych's action effectively delays the swearing-in of his opponent, Viktor Yushchenko, Itar-Tass reported.

Yushchenko beat Yanukovych, the government's hand-picked candidate, by a 52-44 percent margin in the Dec. 26 rerun election runoff. The results of the Nov. 21 runoff, which Yanukovich won, were overturned because of widespread vote fraud.

Yanukovych asked the Supreme Court to set aside the latest election as well and hold a new vote.