Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko declared himself president on Tuesday during an emergency parliament session attended by his supporters and which failed to reach a quorum. With his hand on the bible, Yushchenko swore to "defend the rights and liberties of Ukrainian citizens."
The session was attended by 191 deputies in the 450-seat Rada (parliament), compared with 226 needed for a quorum.
Pro-Moscow Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich is leading the official vote count from Sunday's election by nearly three percent.
Yushchenko's declaration was met by loud cheers from attending deputies, who then sang the national anthem of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian constitution, a president must be sworn in by placing his hand on the constitution rather than the bible.
The Rada's pro-government speaker Vladimir Litvin, who had earlier warned that the country was facing "civil unrest," left the building in protest before Yushchenko claimed the presidency.