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'No clear winner' in Ukraine vote 'No clear winner' in Ukraine vote
(about 1 hour later)
Polls have closed in Ukraine's third national election in as many years, with exit polls suggesting there will be no outright winner. Voting has ended in Ukraine's national election, with exit polls suggesting there will be no outright winner.
The polls show that parties backing President Viktor Yushchenko have a narrow lead over the bloc supporting the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych.The polls show that parties backing President Viktor Yushchenko have a narrow lead over the bloc supporting the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych.
The election was called to resolve a political standoff between the two. Yulia Tymoshenko, Mr Yushchenko's ally, says she will ask the president if she can form a government on Monday.
The BBC's Helen Fawkes in Kiev says if early indications prove true a coalition will have to be formed. Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko, who led the 2004 Orange Revolution, could get a slim majority by joining forces.
She adds that, when this happened after last year's parliamentary election, the process took months and plunged Ukraine into a political crisis. The election - the third in three years - was called to try to resolve a long-running political battle between pro-Western President Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych, who favours closer ties with Russia.
The parliamentary poll was called by pro-Western President Yushchenko, who led the "Orange Revolution" of 2004, in an attempt to break the political deadlock with Mr Yanukovych, who favours closer ties with Russia.
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
The alliance of Mr Yushchenko's bloc, Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence, with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc may have secured a narrow victory to defeat Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions. The relationship between Mr Yushchenko's bloc Our Ukraine - People's Self Defence and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc has been marred by disagreements over the past three years.
The relationship between Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko, his Orange Revolution ally, has been marred by disagreements over the past three years.
The president made Ms Tymoshenko his prime minister in 2004, 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.
'Fundamental change''Fundamental change'
Ukrainian voters contemplate the aftermath of yet another election.In pictures
Speaking on TV on Saturday, Mr Yushchenko said there had been "enough chaos, stagnation and false reforms" in his country.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.
After casting his vote, Mr Yanukovych pledged to form a coalition with "pragmatic political forces". 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 After casting his vote, Mr Yanukovych pledged to form a coalition with "pragmatic political forces".
"Ukrainian people will decide today who is the most pragmatic," he said."Ukrainian people will decide today who is the most pragmatic," he said.
The two men were rivals in the presidential elections of 2004, during which Mr Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning and was left pockmarked. The two men were rivals in the presidential elections of 2004, during which Mr Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning and was left disfigured.
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 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.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.