Tycoon Petro Poroshenko set to win in Ukraine

Kiev/ Donetsk: Chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko appeared poised to lead Ukraine as it grapples with its worst crisis since independence after exit polls showed him winning Sunday’s presidential election outright.

He won almost 56 per cent of the vote against almost 13 per cent for former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to a joint survey conducting by Ukraine’s three leading polling agencies.

If confirmed in results due later Sunday or early Monday, his commanding lead would avoid the need for a second round run-off in three weeks.

Ukrainians had voted en masse in the capital Kiev and the west of the country but a bloody pro-Russian insurgency thwarted voting across most of the separatist east.

“The first thing we must do is bring peace to all the citizens of Ukraine,” the 48-year-old self-made billionaire said as he cast his vote earlier in Kiev.

“Armed people must leave the streets of towns and cities,” said the pro-Western tycoon and veteran politician. “Soon we will end the war. Soon we will stamp out corruption. Soon we will begin European integration and establish democracy.”

Italian journalist killed in Eastern Ukraine

Italy’s foreign ministry says an Italian photojournalist has been killed in eastern Ukraine, where he was covering the conflict ahead of the presidential election.

According to reports the journalists and a Russian interpreter were hit by mortar fire after taking shelter in a roadside ditch.