KIEV, Sept 28: Ukraine’s main parties staged final rallies on Friday ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday pitting the victors of the ‘Orange Revolution’ in a tight race against their pro-Russian rivals.

The streets of central Kiev filled with the orange flags of supporters of Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko and his ally Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as the banners of their bitter rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

About 1,000 people attended a rally of Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party, releasing hundreds of orange balloons into sunny autumn skies on the last day when campaigning is allowed.

A couple of hundred metres away on Independence Square spread a sea of blue flags for Yanukovych’s Regions Party, while the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc was due to gather at another public square.

The snap poll is meant to end a power struggle between Yushchenko and Yanukovych.

However, no party is expected to gain a clear majority.—AFP