From the Kyiv Post

(AP) - Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko urged outgoing President Leonid Kuchma on Dec. 3 to fire the Cabinet and demanded a quick reshuffle of the Central Election Commission.  Speaking to rejoicing supporters at Kyiv's main Independence Square shortly after the Supreme Court satisfied his appeal to declare the disputed presidential runoff void, Yushchenko called the court decision a decisive turning point for the nation.

"Today Ukraine has turned to justice, democracy and freedom," Yushchenko told tens of thousands of supporters from a raised platform on the square. "It happened thanks to you."

The crowd chanted "Yushchenko! Yushchenko!" during his pauses, and he responded by blowing kisses and clasping his hands over his head like a victorious prizefighter. Then they all struck up the national anthem.

He and his band of associates lingered on stage, swaying to Ukrainian pop tunes, and members of the entourage hugged and danced with each other.

"We have proven that we are a nation that could defend our choice. Justice and freedom are coming back to Ukraine thanks to you, real heroes," Yushchenko said, his face projected on two huge screens behind him.

Yushchenko also hailed the judges who handed down the decision.

"The Supreme Court has put a big final stop to the new election that Kuchma wanted," he said.

Kuchma had pushed for holding a new election from scratch, not just a repeat of the runoff, in what was widely seen as a bid by his supporters to hold onto power by fielding a new candidate in place of Yanukovych.

Yushchenko said the opposition would now raise pressure on outgoing Kuchma to sack Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the declared official winner of the Nov. 21 runoff.

"Find the courage to do that - stop tormenting the nation," Yushchenko said.

He also pushed for a quick reshuffle of the Central Election Commission, saying it had "betrayed" the nation by endorsing the fraudulent vote.