Five years after Orange Revolution, Yanukovych set for Ukraine presidency
Yanukovych set to become Ukraine president
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Monday, 08, Feb 2010 10:22
By Richard James.
Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych, ousted from power in 2005's Orange Revolution, is set to become the country's next president, exit polls suggest.
With more than 95 per cent of the votes counted, the pro-Moscow candidate is said to hold a narrow lead over prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Reports suggest though that with the margin so narrow, Ms Tymoshenko may challenge the official result when it is finally declared on Monday.
If the results are confirmed it would represent a remarkable comeback for Mr Yanukovych after he was swept aside in the 2004 Orange Revolution which brought incumbent president Viktor Yushchenko to power.
A failure to deliver on promises delivered six years ago has seen people become disillusioned with his pro-western leadership, analysts claim.
On Sunday evening, Mr Yanukovych called on his long-time rival to concede defeat in the presidential election.
"I think Yulia Tymoshenko should prepare to resign. She understands that well," he said.
The 59-year-old said his priority as president would be restoring the country's economy, declaring: "I will carry out the reforms that will allow us to overcome soon the consequences of the economic crisis."
International observers are expected to deliver their verdict on the election result later today.
The election has seen each one of the main candidates launch a series of bitter attacks on their rivals, with President Yushchenko, who came fifth in the first round of voting in January, turning on Mrs Tymoshenko.
A breakdown of the former allies' relationship has been blamed for the country's instability in the face of a crushing economic slump.