Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko shows a victory sign during a celebration rally at the Independence Square in Kiev, Dec. 27. Thousands of Ukrainians rallied on Jan. 9 in the eastern city of Donetsk, rejecting the results of the Dec. 26 presidential revote and demanding opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko give up presidency. (Xinhua Photo)

    KIEV, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Thousands of Ukrainians rallied Sunday in the eastern city of Donetsk, rejecting the results of the Dec. 26 presidential revote and demanding opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko give up presidency.

    A resolution adopted at the rally said there are no violations in the Nov. 21 presidential runoff and thus former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is the legitimate winner, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

    The resolution demanded Yushchenko give up presidency and the Central Election Commission declare Yanukovych the legitimate president. It also called for a dissolution of the parliament and the resignation of President Leonid Kuchma.

    Yanukovych won a disputed presidential runoff on Nov. 21, 2004,triggering weeks of protests by rival Yushchenko's supporters. The Supreme Court later annulled the election results and ruled for a re-vote of the runoff on Dec. 26.

    According to the preliminary results of the Dec. 26 presidential revote released by the Central Electoral Commission, Yushchenko won the revote by a margin of 8 percentage points over Yanukovych.

    However, Yanukovych has refused to concede defeat, and his numerous appeals before election officials and the Supreme Court all have so far been rejected. Enditem