Exit polls in Ukraine show Viktor Yanukovich leads in the presidential run-off.

 

Ilko Kucherev is from the National Exit Poll consortium.

 

[Ilko Kucherev, National Exit Poll Consortium]:

"The first is Viktor Yanukovich - 48.7 percent, the second is Yulia Tymoshenko with 45.5 percent, and against all 5.5 percent."

 

While the exit polls may show opposition leader Yanukovich won Sunday's election for president, challenges are expected from defeated candidate Yulia Tymoshenko who says the election is too early to call.

 

Yanukovich, who wants better ties with Moscow, staged a remarkable comeback from a former election disgrace to lead Sunday's runoff vote.

 

Former gas tycoon and serving premier Tymoshenko considered part of the so-called orange revolution, once led crowds onto the streets in 2004 to strip Yanukovich of victory after a fraudulent election.

 

The exit polls came as voting ended in snowy, sub-zero temperatures in this country of 46 million.

 

Sunday's vote appeared to reflect a widespread feeling among Ukrainians that the Orange Revolution failed to deliver prosperity or stability.