Voting Starts in Parliamentary Election in Ukraine

Kiev: Ukrainians voted on Sunday in an election that is expected to strengthen President Petro Poroshenko's mandate to end a separatist conflict in the east of the country.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) in the first parliamentary polls since street protests in the capital Kiev last winter forced Moscow-backed leader Viktor Yanukovich to flee and ushered in a pro-Europe leadership under Mr Poroshenko.

Mr Poroshenko called the election early to try to clear out Mr Yanukovich loyalists and produce an assembly that also has a pro-Europe majority. Opinion polls indicated a political grouping supporting Mr Poroshenko was likely to become the main force in the 450-seat assembly.

Such an outcome could increase strains in ties with Russia which the Kiev leadership blames for backing the pro-Russian rebels in the east in a conflict that has killed more than 3,700 people and aggravated Ukraine's economic problems.

Polling stations close at 8:00 pm and exit polls will be available almost immediately. Twenty-nine parties are running, though only a handful are expected to reach the 5 percent barrier required to secure representation in parliament.

But many voters will not be able to cast ballots in Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, and in parts of the east where separatists are in control.