Ukraine will have to go to the polls again because no candidate managed to win over 50 percent of the votes in Sunday's election.

The second round of voting will be held on 7 February between pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich and the present prime minister, pro-Western Yulia Tymoshenko.

Exit polls gave Mr Yanukovich the victory in today's first round with about 37 percent of the vote. Ms Tymoshenko was a close second with around 24 percent. Current pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko was also a candidate but, as expected, attracted few votes. The exit polls gave him just 6 percent.

Mr Yushchenko was swept to power in the 2004 Orange Revolution but, since then has been largely unable to introduce the political reforms he promised. His lack of success is one of the reasons why Ukraine is not considered ready to join the European Union.

photo: outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko (Flickr / maiak.info)