Yanukovych declares victory in Ukrainian vote

Pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych declared victory in Ukraine's presidential runoff but his opponent rejected the claim, saying the vote was too close to call.

Exit polls showed Yanukovych - the main foe of protesters in Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution - with a narrow lead in Sunday's vote over Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a key figure in those pro-democracy protests. Ukraine's Central Election Commission reported early Monday that Yanukovych was ahead 49.6 percent to 44.7 percent with 52.1 percent of the vote counted. (AP)