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| Ukraine pro-Western parties set for election victory | Ukraine pro-Western parties set for election victory |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukraine's president plans to begin coalition talks after what appears to be a victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. | Ukraine's president plans to begin coalition talks after what appears to be a victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. |
| Early results showed Petro Poroshenko's bloc and that of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk each taking 22% of the vote. | Early results showed Petro Poroshenko's bloc and that of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk each taking 22% of the vote. |
| The president thanked voters for backing a "democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority". | The president thanked voters for backing a "democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority". |
| There was no voting in eastern areas that remain under the control of pro-Russian separatist rebels. | There was no voting in eastern areas that remain under the control of pro-Russian separatist rebels. |
| A number of seats in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will remain vacant, as will those for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. | A number of seats in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will remain vacant, as will those for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. |
| The rebels plan to hold their own elections next Sunday. | The rebels plan to hold their own elections next Sunday. |
| The legislative polls were the first since pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February after he refused to sign an agreement on closer ties with the European Union. | The legislative polls were the first since pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February after he refused to sign an agreement on closer ties with the European Union. |
| 'Path to Europe' | 'Path to Europe' |
| With 30% of ballots counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxer champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.59% of the vote. | With 30% of ballots counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxer champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.59% of the vote. |
| But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.7%, according to the election commission. | But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.7%, according to the election commission. |
| Self Help, based in western Ukraine, was third with 10.79%, followed by the Opposition Bloc, formed by allies of Mr Yanukovych and led by former Fuel Minister Yuriy Boiki, on 9.62%. | Self Help, based in western Ukraine, was third with 10.79%, followed by the Opposition Bloc, formed by allies of Mr Yanukovych and led by former Fuel Minister Yuriy Boiki, on 9.62%. |
| The Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko and former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko's Fatherland were both polling above the 5% threshold for entry into parliament, while all other parties were so far below the minimum, including for the first time the pro-Russian Communist Party. | The Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko and former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko's Fatherland were both polling above the 5% threshold for entry into parliament, while all other parties were so far below the minimum, including for the first time the pro-Russian Communist Party. |
| The partial vote count published on Monday covers only 225 of the 450 seats. Results for constituency seats will not come in for a few days. | The partial vote count published on Monday covers only 225 of the 450 seats. Results for constituency seats will not come in for a few days. |
| "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. |
| Correspondents say that the top three performing blocs, including those of Mr Poroshenko and Mr Yatseniuk, 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. | Correspondents say that the top three performing blocs, including those of Mr Poroshenko and Mr Yatseniuk, 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. |
| Varied turnout | Varied turnout |
| Turnout was more than 52%, according to the election commission. | Turnout was more than 52%, according to the election commission. |
| However, it varied widely between the east and west of the country, with some three million people in separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk unable to vote. | However, it varied widely between the east and west of the country, with some three million people in separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk unable to vote. |
| International observers meanwhile expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with some candidates being attacked. | International observers meanwhile expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with some candidates being attacked. |
| Anger in eastern Ukraine at the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. | Anger in eastern Ukraine at the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. |
| At least 3,700 people have been killed since then, 300 of them in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and separatists around Donetsk's airport since a truce was agreed on 5 September. | At least 3,700 people have been killed since then, 300 of them in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and separatists around Donetsk's airport since a truce was agreed on 5 September. |
| 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 also collapsing, with GDP forecast to fall between 7% and 10% this year. | Ukraine's economy is also collapsing, with GDP forecast to fall between 7% and 10% this year. |