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| Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko hopes to start coalition talks | Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko hopes to start coalition talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko plans to start talks on forming a coalition government after exit polls showed his bloc emerge strongest in Sunday's parliamentary elections. | |
| He said talks might last up to 10 days. | |
| PM Arseniy Yatseniuk's People's Front party could be a key partner, he added. | |
| Pro-Western parties look set to dominate parliament after the first legislative polls since the pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February. | Pro-Western parties look set to dominate parliament after the first legislative polls since the pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February. |
| No votes were cast in two areas under control of pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine, with 27 parliamentary seats there and in Crimea - annexed by Russia in March - remaining vacant. | |
| Preliminary official results are expected later on Monday. | Preliminary official results are expected later on Monday. |
| Strong mandate | Strong mandate |
| However, exit polls indicated that President Poroshenko's bloc, comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by boxer Vitali Klitschko, was in the lead with about 23% of the vote. | However, exit polls indicated that President Poroshenko's bloc, comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by boxer Vitali Klitschko, was in the lead with about 23% of the vote. |
| "More than three-quarters of voters who took part in the polls gave strong and irreversible backing to Ukraine's path to Europe," Mr Poroshenko said in televised comments. | "More than three-quarters of voters who took part in the polls gave strong and irreversible backing to Ukraine's path to Europe," Mr Poroshenko said in televised comments. |
| He said that in order not to lose time, coalition consultations should start on Monday. | He said that in order not to lose time, coalition consultations should start on Monday. |
| "We have these 10 days when we must create... the best government in Ukraine because no other government will cope with the challenges that the country is facing today," he added. | "We have these 10 days when we must create... the best government in Ukraine because no other government will cope with the challenges that the country is facing today," he added. |
| At least 3,700 people have been killed since an insurgency in the east of Ukraine began earlier this year. | At least 3,700 people have been killed since an insurgency in the east of Ukraine began earlier this year. |
| Despite a truce agreed on 5 September, some 300 people have been killed in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists around Donetsk's airport. | Despite a truce agreed on 5 September, some 300 people have been killed in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists around Donetsk's airport. |
| Correspondents say that the top three performing groups, including Poroshenko's and Yatseniuk's blocs, are strongly pro-European and are likely to give the president a strong mandate to pursue democratic reforms and pursue efforts to end the conflict in the east. | |
| Mr Yatseniuk's People's Front appeared to come second, polling in the region of 21%, while the Self Help Party, based in western Ukraine, was third with more than 13%, exit polls indicated. | |
| But parties linked to the government of former President Yanukovych or with close ties to Russia fell behind in the parliamentary polls. | But parties linked to the government of former President Yanukovych or with close ties to Russia fell behind in the parliamentary polls. |
| The Opposition Bloc, formed by allies of ousted Pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych, polled in fourth position with 8% of the vote. | The Opposition Bloc, formed by allies of ousted Pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych, polled in fourth position with 8% of the vote. |
| Meanwhile, the pro-Russian Communist Party failed to clear 5%, the polls said, and may be without representation in parliament for the first time. | Meanwhile, the pro-Russian Communist Party failed to clear 5%, the polls said, and may be without representation in parliament for the first time. |
| Varied turnout | Varied turnout |
| The exit polls only take into account voting for 225 of the 450 seats, with results from voting for single constituency seats likely to take longer to count. | The exit polls only take into account voting for 225 of the 450 seats, with results from voting for single constituency seats likely to take longer to count. |
| Some three million people in separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk were unable to vote. Leaders there say they will hold their own polls in the next month. | |
| The election comes amid an energy crisis, with Russia cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine in June in a dispute over unpaid bills. | The election comes amid an energy crisis, with Russia cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine in June in a dispute over unpaid bills. |
| Ukraine's economy is collapsing, with GDP forecast to fall between 7% and 10% this year. | Ukraine's economy is collapsing, with GDP forecast to fall between 7% and 10% this year. |
| Turnout reached more than 51%, according to official figures, however the turnout varied widely between the east and west of the country. | Turnout reached more than 51%, according to official figures, however the turnout varied widely between the east and west of the country. |
| The highest percentage turnout was in the western Lviv region (about 70%), with the lowest in areas of Donetsk region under government control (about 30%). | The highest percentage turnout was in the western Lviv region (about 70%), with the lowest in areas of Donetsk region under government control (about 30%). |
| International observers, meanwhile, expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with violence against candidates. | International observers, meanwhile, expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with violence against candidates. |
| Mr Yanukovych fled in February after a wave of pro-Western protests in Kiev triggered by his refusal to sign a partnership agreement with the European Union. | Mr Yanukovych fled in February after a wave of pro-Western protests in Kiev triggered by his refusal to sign a partnership agreement with the European Union. |
| Anger in eastern Ukraine at his overthrow turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. | Anger in eastern Ukraine at his overthrow turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. |
| Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the election? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |