The head of the Russian Orthodox Church...
sworn in at a ceremony in parliament, thanked the patriarch for the prayer and blessing."I am positive the Ukrainian people will overcome all difficulties in their way, all challenges God has sent to us. We will overcome them and emerge unified," he said.
Yanukovych, the first Ukrainian president not to win half the vote, took the oath in a half empty hall of the Supreme Rada at a ceremony boycotted by his rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her bloc, who have contested the election and refused to recognize him as president.
Yanukovych, who narrowly won the February 7 runoff with 48.95% of the vote against Tymoshenko"s 45.47%, faces a struggling economy and deep political divisions. Yanukovych enjoys support in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions, with Tymoshenko being popular in the country"s west.
His inauguration is the culmination of a remarkable comeback after his victory over Viktor Yushchenko in 2004 was overturned amid fraud
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