Ukraine's Presidential poll overshadowed by killings media personnel

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's presidential elections have been overshadowed by reports that an Italian journalist and his translator were killed in the east where armed pro-Russian separatists had pledged to disrupt voting. 

Meanwhile exit polls show Confectionary magnate Petro Poroshenko has won the election on Sunday with an absolute majority,  averting the need for a runoff vote next month that he had said could destabilize the country.

Two polls gave Poroshenko, a billionaire businessman with long experience in government, 55.9 to 57.3 percent, well ahead of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in second place with just over 12 percent.

If confirmed by results on Monday, there will be no need for a runoff vote on June 15.

Listen to correspondent Stefan Bos's report...

The  presidential elections were held after warnings by pro-Russian rebels that they would try to prevent the ballot. 

Amid the turmoil a 30 year old Italian journalist and his Russian translator were killed near the Ukrainian town of Slaviansk by mortars, in circumstances that remained unclear. A French photographer was injured.

Italy’s foreign ministry said photojournalist Andrea Rocchelli had been covering the conflict ahead of the presidential poll.

SEPARATISTS BATTLE 

Pro-Russian separatists have been battling Ukrainian security forces in the east of the country. More than a dozen Ukrainian troops were killed in recent days.   

With fighting ongoing, observers said fewer than eighteen percent of polling stations were open in the area, with many residents saying they were scared to vote.

Confectionery magnate Poroshenko is the overwhelming favourite to win this election.

He supports closer ties with the European Union and backed months of demonstrations against the now ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich  

MONTHS OF FIGHTING

"Our four months of fighting, the first three months absolutely peaceful, with millions of people demanding democracy, demanding European values, demanding freedom, demanding anti-corruption...was very successful," he told reporters.   

The main challenger of Poroshenko, who has been dubbed the Chocolate King, is former Prime Minister Tymoshenko. 

She is known as the Gas Princess for her interests in the natural gas business. 

If none of them receive at least 50 percent of the vote, they will meet in a final round next month.