Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's opposition leader, yesterday won a pivotal battle in his campaign to secure the presidency when the Supreme Court cancelled last month's disputed polls and ordered a rerun on December 26.

The decision was welcomed by huge crowds of Mr Yushchenko's supporters in central Kiev and by western governments. "This is a great victory for all the people in the square. It's a great victory for democracy," said opposition MP Mykola Katerinchuk.