The party of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has claimed victory in the country's parliamentary election.
 
Officials from the Party of Regions said the poll showed Ukrainians had confidence in their leader.
 
However, initial counts varied widely from exit polls and the complicated electoral system means a final result is some way off.
Thousands of observers are in Ukraine for the vote, which Mr Yanukovych hopes will boost his democratic credentials.
 
Western governments have criticised Mr Yanukovych over the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
 
Officials said the election had passed off smoothly, with a turnout of some 45%, about average for Ukraine.
Ukraine 'united'
 
Ukrainians were voting for 450 MPs, half of whom are selected from party lists, and the other half from single-seat constituencies.
 
Exit polls based only on party-list voting showed the Party of Regions winning 28%, followed by Ms Tymoshenko's United Opposition Fatherland bloc on 24.7%.



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