Independents lead in Ukraine

Independent candidates have gained the most seats to Ukraine's new parliament, according to preliminary results released yesterday of run-off elections over the weekend, AP reports from Kiev.

The parliament has 450 seats. So far, only 73 have been filled in two rounds of voting, and the eventual composition of the parliament is far from clear. Of the seats filled, 40 were won by independents. Various Communist, socialist and agrarian parties hold 24 seats, and so-called 'democratic-nationalist' parties have won nine.