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Orange allies 'lead' Ukraine vote Orange Ukraine eyes poll victory
(about 1 hour later)
Ukraine's Orange Revolution allies say they are ready to form a government as exit polls suggest they have won a slim majority in the new parliament. Ukraine's opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko says she wants to form a new coalition government following Sunday's closely fought parliamentary election.
Combined votes for the parties of Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko give them a narrow lead over Russian-leaning PM Viktor Yanukovych. She says she will hold talks with President Viktor Yushchenko's party in what could be a return to power for the allies of the 2004 Orange Revolution.
But Mr Yanukovych has refused to accept defeat, pointing out that his party had emerged as the largest single group. Partial results show Mrs Tymoshenko's bloc is narrowly leading arch-rival Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Mr Yanukovych is refusing to accept defeat in the poll.
I believe no-one can diminish or deny the victory Ukraine has scored Yulia Tymoshenko Q&A: Ukrainian election Send us your comments
His supporters are expected to hold a rally in the capital, Kiev.
The snap election was the third national poll in three years.The snap election was the third national poll in three years.
It was called in an attempt to resolve a long-running power struggle between Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych. It was called in an attempt to resolve a long-running power struggle between West-leaning Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych, who is viewed as being closer to Russia.
I believe no-one can diminish or deny the victory Ukraine has scored Yulia Tymoshenko class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7015947.stm">Q&A: Ukrainian election Just over 60% of the 37.5m eligible voters cast their ballots, Ukraine's electoral commission said.
Mr Yanukovych's party took 35.3% of Sunday's vote, with Ms Tymoshenko's bloc second on 31.5%, exit polls suggest. Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe have described the vote as "open and competitive".
The party of Mr Yushchenko's supporters won 13.5%, but is expected to form a coalition with Ms Tymoshenko. In the lead
The coalition horse-trading after last year's parliamentary elections took months and plunged Ukraine into political turmoil which helped trigger the latest snap poll. With more than 50% of the votes counted, the Yulia Tymoshenko block (BYT) was leading with 33.31%, it said.
Power struggle 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
Just over 60% of the 37.5m eligible voters cast their ballots, the electoral commission said. Mr Yanukovych's Party of Regions (PR) was a close second with 30.64% while Mr Yushchenko's Our Ukraine-People's Self Defence (NUNS) trailed in the third place with 15.56%.
Mr Yanukovych refuses to yield defeat before official resultsCelebrating the exit poll results, former PM Ms Tymoshenko, sporting her trademark braid, told reporters: "I believe no-one can diminish or deny the victory Ukraine has scored. The Tymoshenko bloc and the NUNS are now widely expected to form a governing coalition.
Celebrating the polls forecasts, Mrs Tymoshenko told reporters:
"I believe no-one can diminish or deny the victory Ukraine has scored.
"Everything will work out. In a matter of weeks we will hold our first government news conference.""Everything will work out. In a matter of weeks we will hold our first government news conference."
Mr Yushchenko's party, Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defence (OU-PSD), struck a last-minute deal before the election to form a coalition with the Tymoshenko Bloc. The NUNS struck a last-minute agreement before the election to form a coalition with the Tymoshenko bloc.
Under the deal, Ms Tymoshenko would become prime minister. Under the deal, Ms Tymoshenko would return to the post she was sacked from in 2005.
But as results were coming in, Mr Yanukovych refused to yield ground. Rival rally plans
Exit polls had suggested the PR would emerge as the biggest party in the 450-member parliament but would not have enough seats to prevent the two Orange parties from forming a government.
Mr Yanukovych refuses to yield defeat before official results
As results were coming in, Mr Yanukovych refused to yield ground, saying his party had won the election.
"This significant support from the Ukrainian people... gives carte blanche to the Party of Regions to form a new, successful government," he said."This significant support from the Ukrainian people... gives carte blanche to the Party of Regions to form a new, successful government," he said.
His supporters are preparing to hold what they describe as a victory rally in Kiev.His supporters are preparing to hold what they describe as a victory rally in Kiev.
The official results - due later on Monday - are likely to be challenged in courts, correspondents say.
The coalition horse-trading after last year's parliamentary elections took months and plunged Ukraine into political turmoil which helped trigger the latest snap poll.
Mr Yanukovych's power base is in the largely Russian-speaking south-east, while the Orange parties enjoy support in western and central regions.Mr Yanukovych's power base is in the largely Russian-speaking south-east, while the Orange parties enjoy support in western and central regions.
Infighting History of infighting
Mr Yanukovych could attempt to form a coalition with his allies in the Communist Party of Ukraine, which won 5.1% of votes, and with ex-parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn's bloc, which won 3.8%, according to the exit polls. Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko led the 2004 pro-democracy street protests - dubbed the Orange Revolution - that swept them both to power.
Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election.In pictures
But Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko together would still have enough of seats to secure at least 226 seats - a wafer-thin majority in the 450-seat parliament, exit polls suggest.
The pair led the 2004 pro-democracy street protests - dubbed the Orange Revolution - that swept them both to power.
But the relationship between OU-PSD and the Tymoshenko Bloc has been fraught over the past three years.
The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in 2005, but their government was brought down by infighting.The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in 2005, but their government was brought down by infighting.
Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych were rivals in the 2004 presidential poll.Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych were rivals in the 2004 presidential poll.
Mr Yanukovych won the initial poll, but the result was annulled over claims of mass vote rigging.Mr Yanukovych won the initial poll, but the result was annulled over claims of mass vote rigging.
Orange-clad campaigners won a peaceful campaign for fresh elections and Mr Yushchenko triumphed in the re-run.Orange-clad campaigners won a peaceful campaign for fresh elections and Mr Yushchenko triumphed in the re-run.
But Mr Yanukovych made a comeback as prime minister in March 2006 and the two enemies grudgingly shared power.But Mr Yanukovych made a comeback as prime minister in March 2006 and the two enemies grudgingly shared power.