Exit polls show Ukrainian opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko with a double-digit lead in Sunday's rerun presidential election.
No official results have been released, and his opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, is not conceding defeat. The exits polls were released when voting ended this evening. Two independent surveys suggest Mr. Yushchenko leading Mr. Yanukovych 56 to 41 percent. A third, funded in part by the government, indicated the opposition leader has an even wider lead, nearly 20 percent. Although Mr. Yanukovych did not concede, he told reporters he would form a strong opposition if he loses. Sunday's vote was ordered by the Ukrainian high court after it found widespread fraud in November's run-off election. The fraud, plus the poisoning of Mr. Yushchenko during the campaign, prompted international concern. The U.S. State Department today called on Ukrainian authorities to assure this count is fair and accurate.