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Ukraine's Orange leader voted out Ukraine's Orange leader voted out
(about 4 hours later)
Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko, the one-time hero of the Orange Revolution, has been eliminated from the country's presidential election.Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko, the one-time hero of the Orange Revolution, has been eliminated from the country's presidential election.
A run-off will be held on 7 February after no candidate won 50% of the vote.A run-off will be held on 7 February after no candidate won 50% of the vote.
With three quarters of votes counted, the president had won only about 5%. Former PM Viktor Yanukovych led current PM Yulia Tymoshenko by some 36% to 25%. With more than 80% of votes counted, the president had won only about 5%. Former PM Viktor Yanukovych led current PM Yulia Tymoshenko by some 36% to 25%.
On opposing sides of the Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005, both now favour closer ties with Russia.On opposing sides of the Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005, both now favour closer ties with Russia.
It was Mr Yanukovych's victory in the 2004 election that was annulled by the Orange Revolution and brought Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko to power. It was Mr Yanukovych's victory in the 2004 election that was challenged by the Orange Revolution, and later annulled by the Supreme Court.
ANALYSIS Gabriel Gatehouse BBC News, KievANALYSIS Gabriel Gatehouse BBC News, Kiev
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was instrumental in bringing the current President, Viktor Yushchenko, to power during the Orange Revolution five years ago. But the pair soon fell out, and she is now portraying herself as the heir of the Orange mantle.Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was instrumental in bringing the current President, Viktor Yushchenko, to power during the Orange Revolution five years ago. But the pair soon fell out, and she is now portraying herself as the heir of the Orange mantle.
Five years ago, Viktor Yanukovych was the villain, tainted by open support from Moscow and allegations of vote-rigging.Five years ago, Viktor Yanukovych was the villain, tainted by open support from Moscow and allegations of vote-rigging.
Now, both candidates say they favour closer ties with Russia - after five years of increasingly tense relations under President Yushchenko - and the Kremlin seems happy with either.Now, both candidates say they favour closer ties with Russia - after five years of increasingly tense relations under President Yushchenko - and the Kremlin seems happy with either.
The poll highlighted Mr Yushchenko's recent power struggle with Mrs Tymoshenko - his former ally during the mass street protests in 2004 that swept his pro-Western coalition to power. Mr Yushchenko and Mrs Tymoshenko were allies in the Orange movement, and became president and prime minister in its aftermath. But they have since become bitter rivals, and the poll highlighted their recent power struggle.
A total of 18 candidates took part in the election. But long before all the ballots were counted, the verdict was clear, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev. Ukrainians had overwhelmingly rejected the man who led the pro-Western protests on Independence Square five years ago.
There was much disillusionment among voters over the failure to tackle corruption and links with the EU, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev. Disillusionment has grown among voters over the failure to tackle corruption in the intervening years, and to push forward links with the EU, our correspondent says.
Turnout was reported to be as low as 50%. In the eastern city of Donetsk, one polling station encouraged voters with vodka and sausage. Fraud concerns
Mr Yushchenko cast his ballot at a polling station in central Kiev with his wife, Kateryna, and their five children. As opinion polls had predicted, the first-round winner was Mr Yanukovych, ahead of Mrs Tymoshenko. The two will take part in a run-off in three weeks' time.
"Ukraine once again will demonstrate that it is a European democratic country, that it is a free nation, free people and free election," he said. Mr Yanukovych has made an extraordinary comeback after his victory of five years ago was ruled fraudulent, our correspondent says.
He seemed delighted to have defeated his old enemy, saying: "Today marks the end of Orange power. There will be no room for (Yushchenko) in the second round. He has officially lost the faith of the people."
Analysts expect Mrs Tymoshenko to pick up more votes in the second round, and the race could be very close.
The leading candidates have accused each other of trying to rig the election, and there have been warnings of unrest after the vote.The leading candidates have accused each other of trying to rig the election, and there have been warnings of unrest after the vote.
The Orange Revolution did not bring the benefits many Ukrainians hoped forThe Orange Revolution did not bring the benefits many Ukrainians hoped for
In an effort to boost confidence in the election, foreign observers spread out across Ukraine to monitor voting. International election monitors from the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation) were due to give their preliminary verdict on the conduct of the election on Monday afternoon.
Jens-Hagen Eschenbacher, of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said about 600 OSCE election monitors had been in place, as well as thousands of other foreign observers. But Matyas Eorsi, chairman of the Council of Europe observation mission, called it "a very peaceful poll".
The Orange Revolution led Ukrainians to expect sweeping changes - integration with Europe and an end to corruption, our correspondent says. Andrei Magera, deputy head of the Ukrainian Central Election Commission, said there was no evidence of voter intimidation nor organised fraud. "There was nothing similar to mass actions that took place in the year of 2004 when voters with absentee ballots had been carried all over Ukraine by buses," he said.
But the reality has not lived up to expectations and there is widespread disillusionment with politicians across the spectrum, he adds. Mrs Tymoshenko responded to the result by saying: "Despite the great campaign of discrimination that was launched by all the oligarchs who rallied around Yanukovych, people showed their wisdom, trust and faith in me."
She said she was ready for talks with the defeated candidates "so that we can move forward with uniting the democratic forces".
A total of 18 candidates took part in the election.
Turnout was reported to be about 67%.
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