Presidential election in Ukraine set for October 25

Kiev: Ukraine's parliament has called presidential elections for October 25.

The race is likely to be heated amid an economic meltdown made worse by political turmoil.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who courts the West and Russia, and the Russian-friendly opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych are expected to be top contenders.

The pro-Western incumbent Viktor Yushchenko has not announced his plans, but has little chance at re-election" polls show him with less than 5 percent support.

Other potential candidates include reformist former parliament speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk and respected former defense minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko.

This will be the first presidential vote since the 2004 Orange Revolution protests that brought Yushchenko to power.