Opposition leader Yanukovich scrapes victory in Ukraine poll

The National Exit Poll, a consortium partly funded by western embassies, said opposition leader Mr Yanukovich had secured 48.7 per cent of the vote against Ms Tymoshenko's 45.5 per cent. Another exit poll, by ICTV, said he won 49.8 per cent of the vote against her 45.2 per cent.

The victory by Mr Yanukovich – if it is confirmed by official results – marks a remarkable comeback by the 59-year-old former mechanic who was disgraced in 2004 by the "Orange Revolution" mass street protests which Ms Tymoshenko, 49, led.

But the closeness of the result suggested Ms Tymoshenko might contest the outcome. Her supporters had complained of "banditry and terrorism" before the polls closed.

A disputed result would further damage confidence in a country plagued by years of political bickering between Orange revolutionaries Ms Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko, which stalled policy-making.

Orange euphoria has given way to frustration and fatigue.

"It would be terrible to vote for Tymoshenko and shameful to vote for Yanukovich," said resident Natalya Zhuk in the capital Kiev. "Nothing in this country will change in the next five years."

Before the polls closed, Ms Tymoshenko's camp said it would contest results in about 1,000 polling stations in the eastern Donetsk region, the industrial power base of Mr Yanukovich.

Deputy prime minister Oleksander Turchynov, who is Ms Tymoshenko's campaign chief, complained of multiple voting and bribery.

He also said a local election official from Ms Tymoshenko's party in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region had died from head injuries while defending a safe containing ballot papers. But the central election commission said the man had died from a heart attack and Russia's RIA news agency quoted a local police chief as confirming this, adding: "He died outside the polling station."

Both Ms Tymoshenko and Mr Yanukovich hope to improve ties with Russia after relations with the ex-Soviet master deteriorated under outgoing president Mr Yushchenko.

Both also hope for closer integration with the European Union, though Ms Tymoshenko is seen as more enthusiastic. Mr Yanukovich was tagged as a stooge of Moscow during the revolution.

Whoever wins must make spending cuts to bring back the International Monetary Fund and its $16.4 billion (10.5bn) bailout for Ukraine that was vital for the state coffers but suspended last year over broken promises.

"I am sure the Ukrainian nation deserves a better life," a smiling Mr Yanukovich said, casting his ballot. "That is why I have voted for good changes, for stability and for a strong Ukraine."

He led Ms Tymoshenko by ten percentage points in the first round on 17 January.