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Ukraine set for tilt to east as Russia's ally holds poll lead

Former convict whose conduct in 2004 led to Orange Revolution is expected to emerge as victor in today's bitter presidential electio.

Ukraine was today on the brink of a new political era, with polls suggesting that the pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych - compared by critics with the gaffe-prone George Bush - will become the new president. 

Yanukovych, a former convict, is likely to emerge as the winner in today's final round of the bitter presidential election. ­Private surveys indicate that he is between three and six points ahead of his rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister. Today's run-off vote follows a preliminary round last month in which Yanukovych had a 10.3% lead.

Victory would allow him to avenge a humiliating defeat in 2004, when his bungling attempts to fix the vote unwittingly provoked the Orange Revolution and propelled his pro-western opponent, Viktor Yushchenko, into power. Since then Yushchenko and Tymoshenko, once Orange allies, have irrevocably fallen out. Click here for more.