KIEV, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's presidential candidates made their final calls for support on Friday at the end of a three-month campaign.

    A total of 18 candidates are contesting Sunday's election, including incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych.

    Ukraine's electoral law forbids campaigning 24 hours before election day, giving voters a quiet day to ponder their decisions.

    Analysts believe that none of the candidates will be able to win an outright victory in the first round and that Yanukovych and Tymoshenko are most likely to face each other in a run-off slated for Feb. 7.

    Since the last presidential election in 2004, Ukraine's politics have been plagued by strifes between Yanukovych and the Orange Revolution allies Yushchenko and Tymoshenko and later between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko.

Presidential election to bring changes to Ukrainian politics

Pre-election posters of presidential candidates Viktor Yanukovich (R) and Viktor Yushchenko are seen in central Kiev January 15, 2010. A total of 18 candidates are taking part in Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday, including President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Premier and opposition leader Yanukovich. No candidate is expected to win the first round outright. However, Yanukovich and Tymoshenko are widely seen as likely to face each other in a run-off on February 7.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    KIEV, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine is to hold a presidential election on Sunday, the first since the 2004 "Orange Revolution" that swept pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko to power. Full story