Ukraine's new president vows to restore political stability

With the prime minister and much of parliament still refusing to recognize his election, Viktor Yanukovych was sworn in as Ukraine's fourth president Thursday and pledged to restore political stability in the divided nation while positioning it as a "European state outside any bloc."

Yanukovych, the Kremlin ally whose presidential bid was thwarted in the Orange Revolution five years ago, vowed to rescue an economy on the brink of collapse. He also signaled a departure from the pro-West policies that have infuriated the Kremlin, promising to balance Ukraine's ties with Russia and the United States.

But in a hint of the difficulties he faces, lawmakers in Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party boycotted the inaugural ceremony. Defeated in the Feb. 7 election, Tymoshenko alleges voting fraud but dropped a legal challenge last week, saying that Yanukovych controls the courts.

Yanukovych is trying to oust Tymoshenko as prime minister but has struggled to form a ruling coalition.