Save Orange Revolution, urges ex-PM

Yushchenko has said he would favour an Orange coalition, but he seemed reluctant to accept the idea of Tymoshenko returning to the No 2 job. He fired Tymoshenko in September and accused her of waging a behind-the-scenes battle for power that caused the much-vaunted Orange Team to implode in a volley of allegations and recriminations.

With more than 47 per cent of the ballots counted, the Central Election Commission put pro Kremlin leader Viktor Yanukovych8217;s party ahead with 27.4 per cent. As in the exit polls, Tymoshenko8217;s bloc came in second, with 23.4 per cent, and Yushchenko, third, with some 16 per cent.

Yanukovych was dominating in the Russian-speaking east and south, and Tymoshenko led in the Ukrainian-speaking west and centre. Yushchenko was ahead in only two of Ukraine8217;s 25 regions.

Yushchenko8217;s job was not at stake, but the newly elected parliament will enjoy vast new powers under reforms that give it the right to name8212;and dismiss8212;the prime minister and much of the Cabinet. With no party getting enough votes to dictate their will8212;the next step will be forming a parliamentary majority of 226 of the parliament8217;s 450 seats that would form the government.

Both Tymoshenko and Yanukovych want the prime minister8217;s job. Neither seems to be an inviting option for Yushchenko.

Analysts have suggested that Yushchenko might find it more palatable to strike a deal with Yanukovych, whose ballot-stuffing attempt to win the presidency in 2004 triggered the Orange Revolution. But they warn such a union could erode Yushchenko8217;s support base8212;handing more power and votes to the ascendent Tymoshenko, whose striking good looks and persuasive style have made her a popular politician in the country.

Tymoshenko challenged Yushchenko in televised remarks to act immediately. 8220;We don8217;t have another path,8221; said Tymoshenko, who wore her white campaign sweater adorned with a red heart emblem. 8212;VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV