Yushchenko says Ukraine to start new political life

(30 Dec 2004) NB: TRUE DATE CREATED = 27/12/2004
1. Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko comes onto stage in his campaign headquarters with his wife, Katarina
2. Various of Yushchenko acknowledging applause of audience
3. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Viktor Yushchenko, Opposition leader:
"Dear friends, the first piece of new is - it has happened! (applause) I want to say that this is a victory of the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian nation. The way we got here was like walking on crutches. For 14 years we have been independent (from the Soviet Union) but now, in one go, we have become (truly) free. (applause) Today in Ukraine a new political century begins. The era of Kuchma, Medvechuk and Yanukovych has gone. (applause) Today we are saying ''goodbye'' to the old times, the times of dishonesty, censorship and violence. The people who were dragging Ukraine to doom today have become history. And this is the great contribution of all of us."
STORYLINE:
Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko told his supporters early on Monday that the nation was turning over a new political page, after three exit polls and partial results projected him winning an easy victory over his opponent in a rerun of an election annulled because of fraud allegations.
"Today, Ukraine is beginning a new political life," he told journalists and others crammed into his orange-bedecked campaign headquarters, noting that the new era would include neither current President Leonid Kuchma nor the man he had hand-picked as his successor, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
"I am aware of the extent of responsibility and I''ll be worthy of your trust," Yushchenko told the crowd at his headquarters, stopping just short of an outright declaration of victory.
With ballots from just over 40 percent of precincts counted, Yushchenko was leading by 56.70 percent to 39.55 percent, election officials said.
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