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Rivals seek Ukraine poll victory Rivals seek Ukraine poll victory
(about 9 hours later)
Ukrainians are voting in their third national election in as many years.Ukrainians are voting in their third national election in as many years.
The parliamentary poll was called by President Viktor Yushchenko, in an attempt to break the political deadlock with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.The parliamentary poll was called by President Viktor Yushchenko, in an attempt to break the political deadlock with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
However, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in the capital Kiev says no one party is expected to gain an outright victory.However, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in the capital Kiev says no one party is expected to gain an outright victory.
She says that forming a coalition government could - given past experience - take months and lead to further political turmoil. She says forming a coalition could, given past experience, take months and lead to further political turmoil. The results should be known on Monday.
The result of the election should be known on Monday. By 1600 local time (1300 GMT) on Sunday, turnout was about 43%, Russian news agency Tass quoted election officials as saying.
Some 50% of the country's 37 million registered voters must turn out in order for the ballot to be valid.
There's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms Viktor YushchenkoUkrainian President Q&A: Ukrainian electionThere's been enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms Viktor YushchenkoUkrainian President Q&A: Ukrainian election
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 tight contest is expected between parties siding with the Western-leaning president, who led the "Orange Revolution" of 2004, and allies of Mr Yanukovych, who favour closer ties with Russia.
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 appear ready to join forces again, despite disagreements in the past three years.
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 2004, but their government was brought down by infighting.
Mr Yushchenko now hopes the alliance of his bloc, Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence, with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc will be enough to defeat Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions.Mr Yushchenko now hopes the alliance of his bloc, Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence, with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc will be enough to defeat Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions.
Polling stations are open for a total of 15 hours, and close at 2200 local time (1900 GMT). Polling stations are open for 15 hours, closing at 2200 local time (1900 GMT).
'Fundamental change''Fundamental change'
More than 37 million of the ex-Soviet republic's 47 million population are eligible to vote in the election, which is being monitored by more than 3,000 international observers.
Our correspondent says turnout is expected to be high, even though many Ukrainians feel frustrated with the country's politicians.Our correspondent says turnout is expected to be high, even though many Ukrainians feel frustrated with the country's politicians.
Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election.In pictures
She adds that 20 political parties are taking part, but only three look certain to get enough votes to reach the 3% threshold needed to obtain seats in the 450-seat parliament, or Rada.She adds that 20 political parties are taking part, but only three look certain to get enough votes to reach the 3% threshold needed to obtain seats in the 450-seat parliament, or Rada.
Speaking on TV on Saturday, Mr Yushchenko, the Western-leaning former financier, urged Ukrainians to vote for "fundamental change". href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_ukraine_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_ukraine_voices/html/1.stm', '1191089959', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_ukraine_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_ukraine_voices/html/1.stm', '1191089959', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
Speaking on TV on Saturday, Mr Yushchenko said there had been "enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms" in his country.
"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. After casting his vote, Mr Yanukovych pledged to form a coalition with "pragmatic political forces".
That election was won by Mr Yanukovych but was rerun amid allegations of mass vote rigging. "Ukrainian people will decide today who is the most pragmatic," he said.
The popular street campaign for fresh elections became known as the Orange Revolution. The two men were rivals in the presidential elections of 2004, during which Mr Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning and was left pockmarked.
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 won the initial poll, but the result was annulled after peaceful protests for fresh elections, which became known as the Orange Revolution.
Mr Yushchenko won the new poll, but Mr Yanukovych made a comeback as prime minister in March 2006 when his Party of the Regions became the largest in parliament.