Ukraine main rebel leader wins vote: separatist exit poll

The main rebel leader in Ukraine's largest separatist region won a crushing victory in a controversial election today, according to an exit poll conducted by the insurgents.

Alexander Zakharchenko, prime minister of the self- declared Donetsk People's Republic, was on course to claim 81.37 per cent of the vote in the presidential poll, rebel election chief Roman Lyagin said. His party was also set to claim 65 per cent of the parliamentary vote.