Ukraine's pro-Russian opposition leader, Viktor Yanukovich, is claiming victory in the presidential elections. With around 90 percent of the votes counted in Sunday's second round of voting, he has a nearly three percent lead over the pro-Western prime minister, Yulia Timoshenko.
Mr Yanukovich has already called on her to relinquish her post, but she is so far refusing to acknowledge defeat.
Supporters of the prime minister claim their own "parallel counts" put Ms Timoshenko ahead. It's expected she will submit an official complaint about the outcome, having already accused the opposition of fraud even before the election.
36 million Ukrainians were eligible to vote on Sunday. The winner will succeed President Viktor Yushchenko, who came to power in 2004 in what was known as the Orange Revolution.
Vote counting in Ukraine (photo: EPA)
Vote counting in Ukraine
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