Ukraine press split over poll

Yanukovych and Yushchenko: Two Viktors but only one will win

Newspapers in Ukraine give sharply contrasting views on the outcome of the first round of the presidential election.

There is plenty of comment on the much-criticised shortcomings of the polls, and after a dead heat the rival camps each predict that their man will triumph in the 21 November run-off.

---

The first half is over. The score is 40-39. The final results of the first round of the election have not been announced yet, but it can be said that it has either ended in a draw or Viktor Yanukovych's victory. Viktor Yushchenko should not expect any good news after the run-off. Yushchenko was a total failure on election night. We have no idea who told him he could win the first round, but he sounded convinced of this!

Segodnya (pro-government daily)

---

The election passed off under normal conditions, without the predicted serious violations and incidents. The presidential race was extremely tense, probably too tense. The candidates' headquarters did not hesitate to indulge in personal accusations, which did them no credit. However, it should be noted that the favourite in the race, Viktor Yanukovych, never stooped to making such accusations against his rivals (including Viktor Yushchenko), although the latter on numerous occasions insulted both the current authorities and Yanukovych personally.

Kiyevskiye Vedomosti (pro-government daily)

---

Only thanks to unbelievable falsifications did the authorities manage to prevent Yushchenko from defeating them in the first round. Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko has scored a resounding moral victory... Only flagrant falsifications, rigging, miscalculations and deliberate mistakes in electoral registers prevented the leader of our Ukraine from achieving victory in the first round. We shall complete our victory in the second round.

Ukrayina Moloda (pro-opposition daily)

---

The authorities failed to turn most of their fellow citizens into zombies. But on their last day, they are ready to rob us of the most precious thing - the right to choose our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Obedient courts and bribed electoral commission heads will not help. There are many more of us who are honest and want change. That is why we will win!

Vecherniye Vesti (opposition daily)

---

Voting passed off peacefully everywhere. There were some regrettable violations, like stamps saying 'withdrawn' next to candidate Mykhaylo Brodskyy's name on ballot papers at many polling stations. The spoiled papers were promptly replaced, and the Central Electoral Commission apologised to Brodskyy.

Holos Ukrayiny (official daily)

---

Inaccuracies in electoral registers were most widespread and typical - which was something Central Electoral Commission members had warned about the day before polling. Such irregularities were registered in almost all regions.

Uryadovyy Kuryer (official daily)

---

Ukraine has yielded to the pressure from the clans, which will carry on (current President Leonid) Kuchma's words and deeds.

Silski Visti (socialist-leaning daily)

---

There is hope that Ukraine is past the crisis point... Part of the reason for this is that since the previous election five years ago, a new generation of voters has grown up which is not weighed down with pious reverence for the nomenklatura. At any rate, this may be the first time Ukrainian voters have proven to be a civil society which freely forms its demands and makes its preferences known.

Den (pro-government daily)

---

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.