New battle for Orange rivals as Ukraine votes
Viktor Yushchenko is fighting to defend his position as president
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Sunday, 30, Sep 2007 03:30
Voting is under way in Ukraine today as the eastern European state chooses yet again between political rivals Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Yuschenko.
Today's election is the third poll in as many years for Ukraine and could see a change to the awkward power-sharing arrangement the pair have been forced into recently.
President Yuschenko was swept to power in the wake of the 2004 Orange revolution, which saw mass protests force Mr Yanukovych out of power following allegations of vote-rigging.
Such is the divided nature of the country that the pro-Russian Mr Yanukovych did well enough in a subsequent election to become prime minister, prompting constitutional battles as the two struggled for power.
When the Ukrainian president called early elections this spring the prime minister dragged his feet and the polls, initially due on June 24th, were postponed to today.
Now Mr Yuschenko hopes to form a coalition with Orange ally Yulia Tymoshenko to oust Mr Yanukovych from the premiership.
Exit polls suggest the vote is likely to be extremely tight and predict Mr Yanukovych will do well enough to retain his post, however.