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The two candidates battling to become the next president of Ukraine are to hold their final rallies in Kiev ahead of Sunday's run-off election.

Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanokovych have been hurling insults at each other since incumbent Viktor Yushchenko was eliminated in last month's first round.

PM Tymoshenko has called Mr Yanukovych a puppet of business interests and says he is preparing to rig the election.

She has threatened to call supporters onto the streets if she loses the vote.

Former Prime Minister Yanukovych has accused Mrs Tymoshenko of telling lies and says she is getting desperate because she is about to lose the election.

Real policy issues and debate seem to have been forgotten amid all the mud-slinging.

Most analysts believe the result of Sunday's election will be close - though some think Mr Yanukovych will win.

If that is correct it would be a remarkable come back for the man who as the representative of the old regime five years ago was swept aside by the Orange Revolution.

He initially thought he had won the presidential election in 2004. But amid mass protests, the supreme court ruled the vote had been rigged.

At that time Mr Yanukovych clearly enjoyed the full backing of the Russian government.

But this time he has indicated he will be more pragmatic, looking both east and west - saying he wants Ukraine to be integrated into the European Union.

As one analyst told the BBC, both candidates in this election realise they need to be at peace with their mighty neighbours - Russia and the European Union.