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| Rivals seek Ukraine poll victory | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Polls have opened in Ukraine's parliamentary election, the latest battle between President Viktor Yushchenko and PM Viktor Yanukovych. | |
| A close contest is expected between parties siding with the president, who led the Orange Revolution of 2004, and allies of his Russian-leaning premier. | A close contest is expected between parties siding with the president, who led the Orange Revolution of 2004, and allies of his Russian-leaning premier. |
| Mr Yushchenko dissolved parliament and called early elections after months of confrontation with Mr Yanukovych. | Mr Yushchenko dissolved parliament and called early elections after months of confrontation with Mr Yanukovych. |
| Polls close at 2200 (1900 GMT), and results are expected on Monday. | |
| Speaking on TV on Saturday, Mr Yushchenko, the Western-leaning former financier, urged Ukrainians to vote for "fundamental change". | Speaking on TV on Saturday, Mr Yushchenko, the Western-leaning former financier, urged Ukrainians to vote for "fundamental change". |
| There's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms Viktor YushchenkoUkrainian president Q&A: Ukrainian election | There's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms Viktor YushchenkoUkrainian president Q&A: Ukrainian election |
| "Either you vote for changes in your lives or you vote to bring back the past and those who have divided us and infected the very body of our nation," he said. | "Either you vote for changes in your lives or you vote to bring back the past and those who have divided us and infected the very body of our nation," he said. |
| "There's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms," said the president, who was left pockmarked by dioxin poisoning in the run-up to the presidential election in 2004. | "There's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms," said the president, who was left pockmarked by dioxin poisoning in the run-up to the presidential election in 2004. |
| That election was won by Mr Yanukovych but was rerun amid allegations of mass vote rigging. | That election was won by Mr Yanukovych but was rerun amid allegations of mass vote rigging. |
| The popular street campaign for fresh elections became known as the Orange Revolution. | The popular street campaign for fresh elections became known as the Orange Revolution. |
| Mr Yanukovych was beaten in the rerun, but made a comeback as prime minister in March 2006 when his Party of the Regions became the largest in parliament. | Mr Yanukovych was beaten in the rerun, but made a comeback as prime minister in March 2006 when his Party of the Regions became the largest in parliament. |
| Election habit | Election habit |
| The BBC's Helen Fawkes, in Kiev, says elections in Ukraine have become an annual event because of ongoing political turmoil. | The BBC's Helen Fawkes, in Kiev, says elections in Ukraine have become an annual event because of ongoing political turmoil. |
| This will be the third time in three years that the ex-Soviet republic of 47m people has gone to the polls. | This will be the third time in three years that the ex-Soviet republic of 47m people has gone to the polls. |
| Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election.In pictures | Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election.In pictures |
| More than 3,000 international observers will be monitoring the ballot amid allegations by each side that the other is plotting to cheat, says our correspondent. | More than 3,000 international observers will be monitoring the ballot amid allegations by each side that the other is plotting to cheat, says our correspondent. |
| Polling stations opened on Sunday from 0700 (0400 GMT) and will close at 2200 (1900 GMT). | |
| Mr Yushchenko and his Orange Revolution ally Yulia Tymoshenko now appear ready to join forces again despite disagreements in the years since 2004. | Mr Yushchenko and his Orange Revolution ally Yulia Tymoshenko now appear ready to join forces again despite disagreements in the years since 2004. |
| The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution but their government was brought down by infighting. | The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution but their government was brought down by infighting. |
| Mr Yushchenko now hopes his Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence bloc's alliance with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc will be enough to defeat Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions. | Mr Yushchenko now hopes his Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence bloc's alliance with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc will be enough to defeat Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions. |
| With 20 groups on the ballot, analysts say none of the other parties looks likely to clear the 3% hurdle to win places in the 450-seat parliament, or Rada. | With 20 groups on the ballot, analysts say none of the other parties looks likely to clear the 3% hurdle to win places in the 450-seat parliament, or Rada. |