Ukraine exit polls show near dead heat

Exit polls in Ukraine's parliamentary election last night appeared to produce a near dead heat between the backers of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and "orange" groups linked to President Viktor Yushchenko.

A poll conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation gave the Regions Party 35.2 per cent and their Communist allies a further 5.1 per cent. In the "orange" camp, the bloc of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko scored 31.5 per cent and Our Ukraine had 13.4 per cent.

A second poll, conducted a group of Western and Ukrainian institutes, credited the Regions with 34.9 per cent and the Communists with 4.5 per cent. Ms Tymoshenko's bloc scored 32.4 per cent and Our Ukraine had 14.1 per cent.

Also clearing the minimum three per cent barrier to win seats was the bloc of centrist former Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn with 3.7 or 3.8 per cent, according to the surveys. Mr Lytvyn has not indicated which of the two camps he would back.

Ukrainians yesterday voted for a new Parliament in an election that President Viktor Yushchenko said offered a choice between "false stability and change" after months of political turmoil.

The pro-Western Mr Yushchenko, swept to power in the 2004 "Orange Revolution", has been sharing power grudgingly with the man he defeated in that upheaval, Viktor Yanukovich, who has bounced back to challenge him as Prime Minister.

The President has rejoined forces with Ms Tymoshenko, who had roused vast orange-clad crowds in the "Orange Revolution", sparked when an election was rigged to ensure Mr Yanukovich became President.