DATE=04/01/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-

TITLE=UKRAINE / ELECTIONS (S)

BYLINE=REBECCA SANTANA

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: UPDATE VOTE FIGURES IN INTRO AS NEEDED ///

INTRO: About half the votes have been counted in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine where citizens voted Sunday to elect a new parliament. A reformist party headed by the former prime minister is leading with 21 percent of the vote. The Communist party is a close second with 20 percent. And the pro-presidential party has about 14 percent. V-O-A's Rebecca Santana in Moscow reports the elections were marred by charges of vote tampering.

TEXT: International observers and opposition politicians have criticized the Ukrainian elections, saying they were biased in favor of the government.

Some voters waited for hours without being able to cast their ballots. Yevgeny Tsyganok, a journalist in Ukraine capital, said clashes were reported in some polling places.

/// TSYGANOK ACT ///

As you can imagine, a person who spends two hours without (the) possibility to cast their ballot were absolutely upset.

/// END ACT ///

Election observers also reported other election irregularities, with some people voting twice.

Officials from the Ukrainian Election Commission say there were minor violations but nothing that would affect the results. (Signed)

NEB/RS/JWH/KPD