Overcoming two fraudulent elections, an attempted asassination by poisoning and the wrath of the Kremlin, Viktor Yushchenko is on his way to the Ukraine presidency and "Man of the Year".

Once a cautious and loyal technocrat, he is now leader of Ukraine's powerful opposition that is demanding radical political change.

Trained as an accountant, Mr Yushchenko drew Western admiration after leading some of Ukraine's bravest reform efforts in President Leonid Kuchma's quarrelsome governments.

Born in the Sumy region of north-eastern Ukraine, on the border with Russia, in 1954, he hails from an agricultural and predominantly Ukrainian-speaking area. In that respect he differs from many of his opponents, whose native tongue is Russian.

After university he pursued a financial career, starting as a village accountant and then gradually moving to much higher posts in former Soviet Ukraine's banking system. In 1993 he became head of the national bank of the newly emerged independent Ukraine.

Under his direction of the country's monetary system, Ukraine moved from hyperinflation and surrogate money to the hryvnya - the country's own and fairly stable currency.

Yushchenko is married to Kateryna, a Chicago-born Ukrainian and has 3 children.