Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych is leading in Sundays Ukrainian presidential election runoff with different exit polls giving him from 48.7% to 50.26%.

Yanukovych was facing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the second round. Tymoshenko gained 44%-45.6%, exit polls said.

The candidate that gains a simple majority of votes wins the runoff. No minimum voter turnout is required.

In the first round on January 17, Yanukovych gained 35.32% of the vote and Tymoshenko came second with 25.05%.

Both presidential contenders previously exchanged accusations of fraud and preparations for provocative acts before the crucial runoff.

Outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko, swept to power by the 2004 pro-Western street protests, gained slightly more than 5% of the vote in the first round. His presidency has been marred by continuous political infighting and economic problems.