Yanukovych supporters hold vigil as Ukrainian vote count goes on

Frontrunner Viktor Yanukovych's supporters plan to spend the night in front of the Central Election Commission building as the vote count after the crucial presidential runoff continues.

Frontrunner Viktor Yanukovych's supporters plan to spend the night in front of the Central Election Commission building as the vote count after the crucial presidential runoff continues.

With 99.47% of ballots counted from Sunday's poll, Yanukovych is leading narrowly with 48.81% of the vote against 45.61% garnered by his rival, current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who co-led the 2004 protests that overturned his declared victory.

A plurality of votes is required to win the runoff.

The election commission said it would not meet until Tuesday morning, but vote counting was to continue throughout the night with updates posted on the commission website.

Several dozen supporters of opposition leader Yanukovich are near the entrance to the building, while others are in tents that dot the central square, hiding from a heavy snowfall.

The vigil will continue "until Yanukovych is declared president," a participant told RIA Novosti, adding they were there to prevent pressure on the election authorities.

Supporters have prepared for a possible protest by erecting a stage and making signs that read "Let's Protect the Ukrainian People's Choice," "Ukraine for Fair Elections," and "We Will Protect the Central Election Commission from Pressure."

Tymoshenko has vowed to take her supporters to the street if she was not satisfied with the election. She postponed a news conference scheduled for Monday until Tuesday.

Ukraine's deputy interior minister, Oleksandr Savchenko, said earlier on Monday that police were in control of the situation and would deter clashes between the two rival groups.

KIEV, February 8 (RIA Novosti)