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Rivals seek Ukraine poll victory Rivals seek Ukraine poll victory
(about 2 hours later)
Polls have opened in Ukraine's parliamentary election, the latest battle between President Viktor Yushchenko and PM Viktor Yanukovych. Ukrainians are voting in their third national election in as many years.
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. The parliamentary poll was called by President Viktor Yushchenko, in an attempt to break the political deadlock with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Mr Yushchenko dissolved parliament and called early elections after months of confrontation with Mr Yanukovych. However, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in the capital Kiev says no one party is expected to gain an outright victory.
Polls close at 2200 (1900 GMT), and results are expected on Monday. She says that forming a coalition government could - given past experience - take months and lead to further political turmoil.
The result of the election should be known on Monday.
There'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.
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.
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).
'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.
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.
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
"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
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.
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.
Polling stations opened on Sunday at 0700 (0400 GMT).
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.
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.