Ukraine frontrunners woo left

KIEV, Ukraine, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The two front-running candidates in Ukraine's presidential election have started to woo left wing voters, Interfax-Ukraine news agency said Monday.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the heir of incumbent President Leonid Kuchma and his pro-American rival Viktor Yushchenko will face each other in a run-off election Nov. 21 because neither won a majority in the first round of voting Sunday. Yanukovych led narrowly with 40.12 percent and Yushchenko had 39.15 percent with 94 percent of votes counted.

That means the 11 percent of votes won in the first round by Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko and Socialist Party leader Oleksandr Moroz will be vital to deciding the winner.

Yanukovych and Yushchenko both announced their readiness on Monday to work together with the country's left-wing political forces ahead of the run-off election, Interfax-Ukraine said.

Speaking at a briefing in Kiev, Yanukovych told supporters of Symonenko and Moroz they "had lost nothing" because of their leaders' failure to reach the second round, the news agency said.

The elections were marred by widespread reports of violations and fears that violence could follow in the days after polls close.

More than 2,000 special forces personnel were brought into Kiev to maintain order.

In Moscow, hundreds of people who showed up at the Ukrainian embassy were turned away because they had missed the Oct. 24 deadline to register to vote, the Moscow Times said.

Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov to step up efforts to create a dual citizenship regime with Ukraine by starting consultations with the Ukrainian parliament, Interfax reported.