Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and his challenger Viktor Yushchenko finished on top in the presidential election on Sunday and will face each other in a run-off next month, exit polls showed.

Two polls, conducted by Ukrainian research institutes, put Yushchenko ahead of the prime minister. But both of them fell short of the 50 percent needed to win outright in the first round.

According to one poll, Yushchenko scored 45.2 percent to 36.8 percent for the prime minister. Another survey gave Yushchenko a tighter lead, 41.98 percent to 40.11.

Should the results hold, Yushchenko and Yanukovich will face each other in a runoff ballot set for November 21.

The results were published minutes after polls closed Sunday inan election to replace outgoing President Leonid Kuchma.

Election turnout was high in the elections, with it breaking the required 50 percent barrier by mid-afternoon when 54.12 percent of the registered voters had turned out at the polls.

Official returns from the contest, with 24 candidates in the running, were to start coming in later on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua