Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2008

An updated tally on the Central Election Commission's website says the pro-Russian party of former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions, is leading the vote with 25 percent.

Yanukovych's party is followed by the bloc led by another former prime minister, Yuliya Tymoshenko (23.6 percent), President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine (17.6 percent), and the Socialist Party (nearly 8 percent).

Yanukovych says he is ready to form a government. But Tymoshenko said late on March 26 that an agreement is nearing completion on forming a coalition cabinet with Yushchenko's Our Ukraine and Oleksandr Moroz's Socialists.

"I can say that at this moment, our party, the Socialist Party, and the Our Ukraine party have fully agreed on the text of a coalition agreement," Tymoshenko said.

Tymoshenko's spokesman, Vitaliy Chepinoga, says he expects a formal announcement to be made after the top leadership of Our Ukraine meets.

Yanukovych's Party Leads In Ukraine Vote Count

Yanukovych campaigning last week in Kyiv (epa)
March 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Ukraine's election authorities say they have counted more than 16 percent of the votes in the country's March 26 parliamentary elections.

Yanukovych's Party Leads In Ukraine Vote Count

Yanukovych campaigning last week in Kyiv (epa)March 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Ukraine's election authorities say they have counted more than 16 percent of the votes in the country's March 26 parliamentary elections.

Yanukovych campaigning last week in Kyiv (epa)
March 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Ukraine's election authorities say they have counted more than 16 percent of the votes in the country's March 26 parliamentary elections.