After months of political infighting, Ukrainian voters on Sunday punished the pro-Western, democratic movement, instead casting votes for former Ukrainian prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was run out of office during the Orange Revolution in 2004. With the official vote count expected to stretch into Tuesday, members of Ukraine's estranged Orange Revolution -- President Viktor Yushchenko  and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko  -- will have to reconcile and create a coalition government if they want to keep Yanukovych from celebrating a political comeback.

According to the Associated Press, only 10 percent of the ballots had been counted some 11 hours after the polls closed. The Central Election Commission put Yanukovych's party ahead with 24.7 percent. As in the exit polls, Tymoshenko's bloc came in second, with 23.8 percent, and Yushchenko's third, with 17.11 percent. Forty-five parties had been on the ballot, but essentially the contest came down to a rematch of the pro-western Orange Revolution forces and Yanukovych's Moscow-oriented backers.

"The Party of the Regions has won a convincing victory," the Associated Press cited Yanukovych as saying after exit polls put his party in first place. "We are ready to undertake responsibility for forming the cabinet and we are calling on everyone to join us."

After Yanukovych tried to steal the 2004 presidential election, Tymoshenko and Yushchenko came together to lead weeks of massive protests that eventually toppled the pro-Russian politician. Yushchenko then became president and Tymoshenko prime minister, but the two were unable to keep their democratic reform movement from descending into bickering and chaos that was punished by voters on Sunday. Now Yushchenko is faced with the prospect of either seeing his nemesis Yanukovych become prime minister or having to rejoin forces with the fiery Tymoshenko.

Following reforms implemented by Yushchenko, the newly elected parliament will enjoy vast new powers that give it the right to name the prime minister and much of the cabinet. But with no party getting enough votes to secure a majority on its own, Ukraine could face a messy coalition-building process in the next few weeks.

Many observers predict the now estranged members of the Orange Revolution would quickly sign an agreement to form a government to keep Yanukovych in the opposition. However, the talks could still easily stall amid disagreement over ministry positions.

"We don't have another path," Tymoshenko said in remarks broadcast on Ukraine's TV5. "It's our only option."

Regardless of the election outcome, Ukraine does not appear set to revert to the undemocratic days before the Orange Revolution. Yushchenko as president retains the right to set the nation's foreign policy and he has said the country would continue its pro-Western course. Even Yanukovych, who wants closer ties with Moscow and wishes to halt Ukraine's bid to join NATO, has said he now supports eventual European Union membership.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the newspaper Die Welt that Brussels was ready to work with any incoming administration. "We are fundamentally prepared to increase our engagement in Ukraine," she said. Following a recent visit to the country she determined even Yanukovych's party "wants a stronger connection to Europe."