Ukraine to choose Russia or the West in tense poll

Ukraine's presidential election, offering voters a choice between deepening ties with Russia or edging closer to the West, went down to the wire yesterday with its two contenders locked in an apparent dead-heat.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, backed by Ukraine's establishment, is expected to finish atop a field of 24 alongside Western-leaning challenger Viktor Yushchenko in today's election. Neither is likely to get 50 per cent and a run-off next month is all but certain.

The vote is tantamount to a referendum on the decade in office of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, who backs his prime minister. Debate has been peppered with accusations by each side that the other is out to subvert the poll.

But days of tension gripping Kiev, with rumours of impending troop deployments or power cuts, subsided yesterday.

With public campaigning barred, workers scrubbed down schools housing polling stations, assembled ballet boxes and readied traditional food stands.

Yanukovich stands for closer integration with Moscow and the solid economic growth posted under his stewardship was endorsed this week by visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yushchenko accuses authorities of plotting to rig the election to secure victory for the prime minister. He has charged Kuchma's team of plundering Ukraine in the interests of business clans and wants to move gradually closer to the West.

The challenger met the head of a 600-strong team of Western observers overseeing the vote yesterday. He then visited a memorial east of Kiev to 19th century national poet Taras Shevchenko, who railed against Russian dominance of Ukraine.

Though independent for 13 years, Ukraine remains subject to heavy Russian influence. Liberals accuse Moscow of meddling in the campaign.

Putin arrived in the race's final days to answer viewers' questions on television, praising the prime minister's policies and his calls for closer integration. He then stood next to Yanukovich and Kuchma at a Soviet-style military parade.

The Kremlin leader touched a further nerve on the eve of the vote, asking Russian parliamentary leaders to start talks with Kiev on a law allowing Ukrainians to hold dual nationality. Yanukovich backs dual nationality, but liberals denounce it, saying it would undermine the authority of their young state.

The EU and the US have urged Ukraine to ensure a fair contest.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, speaking on Friday in Washington, said the campaign's shortcomings were "deeply disappointing".

But he added: "It's not too late for Ukraine to conduct an election itself that does meet international standards."