Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko

Exit polls in Ukraine suggest that the pro-Western alliance could be back in office. The former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc could have enough seats to form a coalition with President Viktor Yushchenko's party. But the outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has other ideas. This report from Helen Fawkes:

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However, their opponent, the Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, is defiant. His party, which is friendlier to Moscow, was the most popular in Sunday's election, according to the exit polls. Supporters of the Prime Minister are expected to hold a rally in the capital later.

Meanwhile, the Orange parties are due to meet to discuss a coalition agreement. If the exit polls are accurate and the Orange team manage to form a coalition, then Yulia Tymoshenko would become Ukraine's next Prime Minister. All this is dependent on the outcome of the election. It's expected that the result could be announced later on Monday.

Helen Fawkes, BBC News, Kiev

Listen to the words

on the verge of
close to, very likely

exit polls
organized questionings of people as they leave polling stations about how they voted (to try and predict who will win the election)

ally
someone who supports and helps someone else

scored a narrow victory
won with a small majority

the largest share
most

defiant
not willing to accept the result of something (here, the election)

to hold a rally
to have a public meeting (of a large group of supporters)

due to
scheduled/timetabled to

coalition
union of different political parties or groups for a particular purpose, usually for a limited time

outcome
result

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