Challenge dropped

Tymoschenko said on Saturday she had lost confidence in the court and would withdraw her lawsuit. She complained that that the proceedings were biased against her.

"Given that the court is refusing to establish the truth in essence, I withdrew my lawsuit at today's morning sitting of the Supreme Administrative Court and asked the court to stop this show, which bears no resemblance to justice," she said.

The 49-year-old said the court had refused to consider documented proof of what she claimed were "falsification" of election results.

"It is clear they want to whitewash this falsification and act as if it was legal," Tymoshenko said, referring to the judges on the court panel.

Way clear for Yanukovych

Tymoshenko lost the Feb 7 presidential runoff to pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych by just 3.5 percent. She however refused to concede and launched a legal challenge, saying the polls were rigged.

She claimed that more than 1 million votes were falsified or miscounted and urged a full re-count of the vote.

Yanukovych, 59, has denied any vote-rigging by his side.

Saturday's about-turn by Tymoschenko now clears the way for Yanukovych to be sworn into office on February 25.

Tymoshenko had been pressing for a new presidential vote as took place in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" which ended with President Viktor Yushchenko being elected.

Yanukovych was denied the top job then by the protests against electoral fraud.

gb/dpa/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar