The party of Russia-backed Viktor Yanukovich, loser in a presidential poll in Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution", held a clear lead in yesterday's parliamentary election, exit polls showed.

But an even bigger blow for the pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko came from the bloc of his estranged "Orange Revolution" ally Yulia Tymoshenko, who flew past him into second place leaving his Our Ukraine party badly trailing.

The projected outcome, that could mark a step away from the pro-West ideals espoused by the Orange Revolution which turfed out Mr Yanukovich and a pro-Moscow establishment, was also a personal humiliation for Mr Yushchenko at Ms Tymoshenko's hands.

An exit poll conducted by three Ukrainian institutions gave Mr Yanukovich's Regions party 33.3 per cent of the vote, the Ms Tymoshenko bloc 22.7 and the pro-presidential party 13.5.

A second exit poll gave roughly the same picture, putting the Regions Party at 27.5 per cent, the Tymoshenko bloc at 21.6 and Our Ukraine on 15.5 per cent.

Once close "orange" comrades in the heady street protests of 2004 that turfed out the pro-Moscow establishment, Mr Yushchenko and his charismatic former premier have been on poor terms since he sacked her as Prime Minister last September.

Now long weeks of talks will probably be needed to piece together a coalition able to command a majority in Parliament which, under new constitutional rules, is empowered to choose the Prime Minister.

Mr Yushchenko, voting in central Kiev, said earlier that talks would start immediately after the election.

"Tomorrow we start consultations with political forces which made up the coalition which was victorious in the Orange Revolution," he said as he cast his ballot in central Kiev.

But disillusionment over splits in the "orange" team and an economic slowdown had clearly contributed to the big score for Mr Yanukovich, who commands strong support among Russian speakers in industrial eastern Ukraine.

Ms Tymoshenko, 45, a voluble and persuasive performer, has been for months blaming the President and his entourage for splits in the "orange" ranks and had clearly been heeded by large swathes of the liberal vote.

Though his own job is not at risk, the apparent outcome means Mr Yushchenko will probably have to reach awkward accommodations with either his old rival from the bruising 2004 campaign or Ms Tymoshenko.

At stake is the fate of a country of 47 million, whose "orange" leaders have been unable to deliver on promises after prising Ukraine loose from centuries of Russian domination and setting it on a course for joining the European mainstream.

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