Kiev - President Leonid Kuchma and his main left-wing rival, Mr Petro Symonenko, emerged yesterday as the frontrunners in Ukraine's presidential election and headed for a direct clash in a run-off vote in two weeks' time.
The Central Election Commission said that with 96 per cent of Sunday's poll counted, the 61-year-old Mr Kuchma, who vows to press ahead with pro-market reforms, had won 36.36 percent against 22.32 percent for Communist Party leader Mr Symonenko.
However, the official preliminary results left open the possibility of Mr Kuchma being defeated in the second round if left-wing voters rally around Mr Symonenko in an attempt to stop the incumbent from winning a second five-year term.