Monday, January 18, 2010
KIEV: Ukraine braced for a nail-biting run-off between two old rivals in presidential elections after the first round vote eliminated discredited Orange Revolution hero President Viktor Yushchenko.
Exit polls and partial results showed the election was led by pro-Russia politician Viktor Yanukovich, the man accused of rigging 2004 elections which sparked the Orange Revolution uprising that swept the old order from power.
Second place was set to go to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a former Orange Revolution comrade of Yushchenko who subsequently fell out with the president and adopted a more pragmatic tone on relations with Russia.
As Yanukovich failed to win a majority in Sunday's first round, the election will go to a second round on February 7 with all to play for between the two old foes who have savaged each other's reputation in the campaign.
The exit polls showed Yushchenko taking a miserable six percent of the vote, a reflection of Ukraine's frustration that the Orange Revolution failed to realise the dreams of those who protested in 2004.
Yanukovich was set to obtain 32 percent of the vote and Tymoshenko 27 percent, according to the initial results of an exit poll of Sunday's ballot organised by the Foundation for Democratic Initiatives.
Early official results, based on only 10.97 percent of the vote counted, put Yanukovich on 38.63 percent and Tymoshenko on 24.72 percent, the central election commission said. Turnout was 67 percent.
KIEV: Ukraine braced for a nail-biting run-off between two old rivals in presidential elections after the first round vote eliminated discredited Orange Revolution hero President Viktor Yushchenko.
Exit polls and partial results showed the election was led by pro-Russia politician Viktor Yanukovich, the man accused of rigging 2004 elections which sparked the Orange Revolution uprising that swept the old order from power.
Second place was set to go to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a former Orange Revolution comrade of Yushchenko who subsequently fell out with the president and adopted a more pragmatic tone on relations with Russia.
As Yanukovich failed to win a majority in Sunday's first round, the election will go to a second round on February 7 with all to play for between the two old foes who have savaged each other's reputation in the campaign.
The exit polls showed Yushchenko taking a miserable six percent of the vote, a reflection of Ukraine's frustration that the Orange Revolution failed to realise the dreams of those who protested in 2004.
Yanukovich was set to obtain 32 percent of the vote and Tymoshenko 27 percent, according to the initial results of an exit poll of Sunday's ballot organised by the Foundation for Democratic Initiatives.
Early official results, based on only 10.97 percent of the vote counted, put Yanukovich on 38.63 percent and Tymoshenko on 24.72 percent, the central election commission said. Turnout was 67 percent.
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