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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ukraine parliamentary polls close | Ukraine parliamentary polls close |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ukrainians have cast their votes in a parliamentary election seen as a vital test of the country's democracy. | Ukrainians have cast their votes in a parliamentary election seen as a vital test of the country's democracy. |
| Partial exit polls suggest President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions gained the most votes, but opposition parties did better than expected. | Partial exit polls suggest President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions gained the most votes, but opposition parties did better than expected. |
| Western governments have criticised Mr Yanukovych over the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. | Western governments have criticised Mr Yanukovych over the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. |
| Officials said the election had passed off smoothly, and about 45% had voted, about average for Ukraine. | |
| Ukrainians were voting for 450 MPs, half of whom are selected from party lists, and the other half from single-seat constituencies. | Ukrainians were voting for 450 MPs, half of whom are selected from party lists, and the other half from single-seat constituencies. |
| Thousands of observers | Thousands of observers |
| Exit polls based only on party-list voting showed the Party of the Regions winning 28%, followed by Ms Tymoshenko's United Opposition Fatherland on 24.7%. | Exit polls based only on party-list voting showed the Party of the Regions winning 28%, followed by Ms Tymoshenko's United Opposition Fatherland on 24.7%. |
| The other main parties were the far-right Freedom party (12.5%), the Communists (12.5%) and the anti-corruption Udar party (15.4%) of boxing champion Vitali Klitschko. | The other main parties were the far-right Freedom party (12.5%), the Communists (12.5%) and the anti-corruption Udar party (15.4%) of boxing champion Vitali Klitschko. |
| Overall, the exit polls suggested Mr Yanukovych's party and its allies would be returned with a slimmer parliamentary majority. | Overall, the exit polls suggested Mr Yanukovych's party and its allies would be returned with a slimmer parliamentary majority. |
| The final official result is expected on Monday. | The final official result is expected on Monday. |
| During voting, Mr Yanukovych said he had cast his ballot for "stability and economic development". | During voting, Mr Yanukovych said he had cast his ballot for "stability and economic development". |
| "I believe that this election will move Ukraine towards unity," he said. | "I believe that this election will move Ukraine towards unity," he said. |
| After casting his vote in the capital, Kiev, Mr Klitschko said he was "going to parliament to fight". | After casting his vote in the capital, Kiev, Mr Klitschko said he was "going to parliament to fight". |
| He listed his "five key punches" as corruption, indifference of the authorities, lack of local governance, inequality and poverty. | He listed his "five key punches" as corruption, indifference of the authorities, lack of local governance, inequality and poverty. |
| Ms Tymoshenko voted from her jail cell, where she is serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of power. | Ms Tymoshenko voted from her jail cell, where she is serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of power. |
| The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says these are some of the most closely watched elections in Ukraine's history. | The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says these are some of the most closely watched elections in Ukraine's history. |
| There are 3,500 accredited foreign observers, including more than 600 from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, says our correspondent. | There are 3,500 accredited foreign observers, including more than 600 from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, says our correspondent. |
| Campaigning concerns | Campaigning concerns |
| Earlier, Western officials expressed concerns over campaigning. | Earlier, Western officials expressed concerns over campaigning. |
| In a New York Times editorial, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton cited "worrying trends" in the interim election report from the OSCE (of which Ukraine is due to take over the rotating chair in January). | In a New York Times editorial, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton cited "worrying trends" in the interim election report from the OSCE (of which Ukraine is due to take over the rotating chair in January). |
| These included government resources being used to favour ruling-party candidates, media restrictions, vote-buying and lack of transparency on the electoral commissions. | These included government resources being used to favour ruling-party candidates, media restrictions, vote-buying and lack of transparency on the electoral commissions. |
| The jailing of Ms Tymoshenko has severely strained relations with the West. | The jailing of Ms Tymoshenko has severely strained relations with the West. |
| Opposition supporters say Ms Tymoshenko was prosecuted and imprisoned last year in order to prevent her running in the election. | Opposition supporters say Ms Tymoshenko was prosecuted and imprisoned last year in order to prevent her running in the election. |
| The EU indefinitely postponed its association agreement, including a free trade pact, after the jailing. | The EU indefinitely postponed its association agreement, including a free trade pact, after the jailing. |
| Mr Yanukovych, who has been president for three years and faces re-election in 2015, has rejected calls to free his rival. | Mr Yanukovych, who has been president for three years and faces re-election in 2015, has rejected calls to free his rival. |
| He says she was sentenced by an independent court. | He says she was sentenced by an independent court. |
| He insists European integration is one of his government's main goals and will hope his pro-business party can hold on to the parliamentary majority it enjoys. | He insists European integration is one of his government's main goals and will hope his pro-business party can hold on to the parliamentary majority it enjoys. |
| Ukraine, with a population of 46 million, has been hit by the global economic downturn and unpopular pension and tax policies. | Ukraine, with a population of 46 million, has been hit by the global economic downturn and unpopular pension and tax policies. |
| The Party of Regions recently attempted to assuage public opinion by boosting public-sector salaries and pensions. | The Party of Regions recently attempted to assuage public opinion by boosting public-sector salaries and pensions. |
| But the reforms exacerbated a $2bn (£1.25bn) budget deficit and called into question the likelihood of securing IMF lending, correspondents say. | But the reforms exacerbated a $2bn (£1.25bn) budget deficit and called into question the likelihood of securing IMF lending, correspondents say. |
| Ukrainian authorities hope a good assessment by 3,500 international election observers will reopen the door to the association agreement. | Ukrainian authorities hope a good assessment by 3,500 international election observers will reopen the door to the association agreement. |