The liberal challenger in Ukraine’s presidential election has alleged authorities are trying to rob him of victory by cheating and has called on his supporters to turn out on the streets in protest. Viktor Yushchenko said there had been blatant falsification in Sunday’s run-off vote in two specific areas of eastern Ukraine, where his opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, is particularly strong.

“I believe in my victory, but we are saying that today the authorities have launched total falsification (of results),” he said. He called on his supporters to rally in the centre of the capital Kiev from 9 a.m. yesterday and stage peaceful demonstrations. “We won. Full-stop,” he said, speaking later to supporters at his campaign headquarters. He called on the world community to focus attention on what was happening in Ukraine and said direct appeals would be made to the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Yushchenko’s comments heightened tension ahead of a formal announcement of preliminary results by the central election commission at the end of the count, expected later yesterday.

Partial official results, based on almost 70 per cent of the count announced at 4.40 a.m., put Yanukovich holding a tiny lead of less than one percentage point. Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, who endorses Yanukovich, urged people on the eve of the poll to disregard calls for unrest from the Yushchenko camp.

The poll could decide whether Ukraine tilts towards the West, following the example of three new European Union members on its borders, or towards Russia, its old imperial master. Yushchenko, a former prime minister, advocates a gradual integration of the country into European institutions. Yanukovich, who favours greater state control in the economy and wants closer ties with Russia, has been publicly backed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

Central Election Commission chief Serhiy Kivalov said that, unlike the first round when Ukraine had to wait 10 days for the outcome, a preliminary result could be known by yesterday morning. Thirteen years after gaining independence, the ex-Soviet state, while potentially an industrial and agricultural powerhouse, remains outside the European mainstream and many of its 47 million people get by on a monthly salary of $ 60 (32 pounds) or less. News of the exit poll that gave Yushchenko victory brought thousands out on to Independence Square, many clad in the bright orange campaign colours of the challenger, waving flags, swaying and singing along with pop groups shown on giant screens.

“The results of the exit poll show a clear victory for our candidate. We need to defend this victory,” Yushchenko’s campaign chief, Oleksander Zinchenko, told them. Serhiy Tyhypko, Yanukovich’s campaign manager, told ICTV television: “The final word will be with the Central Election Commission. We will abide by those results, whatever they are.” Yanukovich himself made no public statement. Incomplete figures put turnout at about 79 percent of the 37 million voters – even higher than the October 31 first round and testament to the politically charged nature of the election.

<B>Richard Balmforth </B>