Ukraine is to hold a presidential election on Sunday, the first since the 2004 "Orange Revolution" that swept pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko to power.

The poll is not only a presidential race but also a contest for control over the government and parliament, which will lead to drastic changes in Ukraine's domestic and foreign policies, analysts say.

Two front-runners

A total of 18 candidates stand ready for the election, including President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Parliament Speaker Vladimir Litvin, Regions Party leader Viktor Yanukovych, Change Front head Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and Sergei Tigipko, leader of Labor Party, according to the Ukrainian Central Election Commission.

Opinion polls show there will be no outright winner in the first round. Yanukovych and Tymoshenko, who are well ahead of rivals in the polls, are expected to go forward to a second round scheduled for Feb. 7.

Yanukovych is on course to garner the most ballots in the Jan. 17 election with his poll rating at 25-32 percent. The veteran politician promises Ukrainians economic revival, creation of new jobs, pay raises, judicial reforms and duty-free policies for small enterprises for five years.

Polls show 15-20 percent support Yanukovych's main challenger Tymoshenko, a former Yushchenko ally. While giving priority to a fair society and government efficiency, Tymoshenko also pledges a reform of economic structure driven by innovation as well as improvement in people's welfare.

Despite Yanukovych's leading position, Tymoshenko's extraordinary political skill makes it difficult to predict the election results, and other contenders' attitude will be crucial to the likely run-off vote, analysts say.