Latest Ukranian election udate:

Both candidates declare victory in Ukraine vote
Last Updated Mon, 22 Nov 2004 05:40:05 EST

KYIV - There are conflicting results in Ukraine 's run-off presidential vote. The first ballot results favour Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovitch, but Western-funded exit polls say Viktor Yuschenko is headed for victory.

The conflict in results was not unexpected.

Viktor Yushchenko holds his infant son, Taras, as he leaves a polling station in Kyiv Sunday. (AP photo)

There were charges of fraud after the first round of balloting three weeks ago by Yuschenko's supporters.

On Sunday after the first exit poll results were released, those supporters were in a mood for celebration. But as Monday morning arrived they were more concerned with an accurate vote count. They say they don't trust their government do it fairly.

Yuschenko, who has pledged to move the former Soviet republic closer to the European Union, told his supporters this was a contest not just for him, but the country. "My nation today is going through a test of its democracy," he said. "Each nation goes through a difficult period when it is tested for its will to live freely."

Yanukovitch, whose powerbase is in eastern Ukraine wants to maintain close cultural and economic ties with Russia. He has promised to make it easier for Ukrainians to obtain dual Russian citizenship and to make Russian, spoken by 30 per cent of the population, an official language.

Yanukovtich campaigned with spin doctors from Moscow, millions of dollars from the shady business clans and a fawning state media.

"I believe that reason will prevail and the deliberation and tolerance of the Ukrainian people will do their part," he said.

Their was high emotion in the final days of the campaign. Some supporters of Yanukovitch claimed the opposition would take to the streets to steal the election.

Yuschenko's supporters were discouraged by widespread voting fraud against their candidate in the first round three weeks ago. They seemed desperate for justice, invoking even. St. Michael, the patron saint of Kyiv. "Today is the big celebration of St. Michael's Day," said one supporter, "and I hope St. Michael will help us."

Viktor Yanukovich greets supporters outside a polling station in Kyiv Sunday. (AP photo)

Western observers say there is no doubt the vote was badly marred.

"There's been systemic fraud taking place in the electoral process today. And leading up to the voting today there has been systemic intimidation," said Borys Wrzesnewskyj, the Liberal MP for Etobicoke Centre and an election observer. Whatever the final numbers are, he says, the vote was organized to ensure Yuschenko 's defeat.

Another observer, Jim Jacuta, director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, says the outcome of the race could change the politics of the post-Soviet countries in the region.

"If Ukraine goes down, then this area of the world becomes something like a new political structure and it can take on some very bad features. And that could be something like a new fascism, something like a new Stalinism. We don't know what it will be, but clearly it won't be democracy."

Yushenko's supporters have declared victory, but the problem is so have Yanukovitch's. The country's electoral commission has 15 days to count the ballots. But even then, the result may very not be accepted by all

I'm freaking out. I really don't want Yanukovitch to win. My poor Ukranian friends would be stuck in fascisim for probably a really long time.

(this is Ira, the e-mail sender)

(and Martin what a cutie)
I'm soooo scared. Pray hard guys. I'd really appreciate it.