Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's pro-Moscow opposition leader, will win a narrow victory in the nation's presidential election, electoral officials claim.

According to the BBC News, "with more than 98% of votes counted, Mr. Yanukovych had a 2.7% lead over his rival, Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko, media said. Mr. Yankovych called on Mrs. Tymoshenko to quit, but she refused and is expected to challenge the results."

International observers consider the vote to be an "impresive display of democratic elections." Reuters News Agency reported on a statemtn by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as saying that, "for everyone in Ukraine, this election was victory."

The statement added, "it is now time time for the country's political leaders to listen to the people's verdict and make sure that the transition of power is peaceful and constructive."

Richard Galpin, BBC's correspondent in Kiev, believes that favorable judgements by the electoral commission and international observers will make it even more difficult for Mrs. Tymoshenko to challenge the results.

Mrs. Tymoshenko has postponed a news conference on the outcome until Tuesday.

As reported by the BBC, the results suggest a remarkable comeback after Mr. Yanukovich was swep aside by the 2004 'Orange Revolution.' Under the 59-year-old former mechanic, Ukraine's froeign policy is expected to become more pro-Russian.

The BBC correspondent insists that a Yanukovych victory would be an exceptional indictment of the pro-Western Orange Revolution's leaders' failures to deliver on their campaign pledges that has left people mired in deep disillusionment.

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