Yanukovych: I Am Still President And Commander-In-Chief Of Ukraine

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (Reuters) - Ukraine's ousted leader, Viktor Yanukovich, reiterated on Tuesday that he was the country's legitimate president and commander-in-chief, saying he was sure the armed forces would refuse to obey any "criminal orders".

In a statement in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, Yanukovich remained unswayed in his argument that "extremists" had taken power in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. He told journalists that a presidential election set for May 25 would be illegal.

(reporting by Denis Pinchuk, writing by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Steve Gutterman)