Polling in cold and cynical weather

Braving widespread cynicism with the political elite as much as freezing temperatures, Ukrainians voted for a new president yesterday despite often failing to muster much enthusiasm for any candidate.

With snowflakes falling in Kiev and the pavements treacherous with black ice, the winter weather reflected the bleak mood of voters five years after the Orange Revolution briefly raised hopes of a new era in Ukraine.

The main contenders in the first round of the vote, pro-Russia politician Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, are the same faces who have been at the centre of Ukraine's politics for much of the decade.

Opinion polls said that turnout will be relatively high at more than 70 per cent and a steady flow of voters was already heading into polling stations.

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