Yanukovych leads in Ukraine’s presidential race after half of votes counted

Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych is leading with 36.86% in the Ukrainian presidential elections, after half of the ballots has been counted, the country’s Central Election Commission said on Monday.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko trails with 24.31%.

Ex-National Bank head Serhiy Tyhypko is third, with 13.08% of the vote, while ex-parliament speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk has gained 6.8% and the country’s incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko 4.87%.

The elections took part in the ex-Soviet state on Sunday.

Yanukovych and Tymoshenko are likely to face each other in a runoff as none of the candidates is gaining 50% plus one vote needed to win the elections in the first round.