Allegations of irregularities in fraught contest
KIEV, Ukraine (CNN) -- Ruling Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych narrowly led the presidential race in Ukraine on Monday, but a run-off against his liberal challenger appeared certain.
Yanukovych campaign officials said they had documented more than 2,000 election violations, mainly in western Ukraine, where support for the opposition candidate is strong, news reports monitored by AP said. Both candidates have distinctive power bases. Yushchenko is the favorite of nationalist western Ukraine, while Yanukovich is backed in the Russian-speaking industrial East.Yanukovych, backed by the outgoing president and endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, had increased pensions and public sector wages during the campaign, relied on high growth figures and called for closer ties with Moscow."The main achievement is that we managed to uphold peace and calm in our country," Serhiy Tyhypko, the prime minister's campaign manager, said in a televised statement. "I have always believed in the wisdom of the Ukrainian people.
