Ukraine faces uncertainty after Yanukovich win

Three exit polls put opposition leader Yanukovich between 4 and just over 5 percent ahead of Prime Minister Tymoshenko. But though the victory was hailed as “absolute” by a Yanukovich aide, it was narrower than his camp had hoped for.

The charismatic Tymoshenko, 49, who rallied tens of thousands against Yanukovich five years ago in the “Orange Revolution” protests over his rigged election then, refused to concede victory to her opponent on Sunday night.

She said she would await the official results of the count which were coming in overnight.

Significantly though, in a televised broadcast that was moderately-worded in contrast to her usual fiery style, she did not renew a threat made last week to call her supporters out on the streets if she suspected electoral fraud.

Analysts say that probably reflects a realization on her part that there is no appetite for a replay of the Orange Revolution in the country of 46 million which is in the grip of a deep economic crisis and suffering from election fatigue.

If she made such a call and it flopped, it would be politically dangerous for her.

But, if the narrow Yanukovich victory is confirmed by overnight results, then her aides could still try a legal challenge to the result.

In Ukraine's bureaucratic judicial system that could lead to protracted legal wrangling.

“Such a small gap means that there will be a serious fight for the final election results,” said Yuri Yakimenko of the Razumkov Centre.

“The margin is not convincing and it is not the 10-12 percent as Yanukovich's side has said. They could not fulfill their tasks and so we await a long court battle,” he said.

Other analysts said much would hinge on the final verdict handed down by international election monitors led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which is due today — and if Tymoshenko will accept their findings.

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