A total of 18 candidates have been registered to run in the Ukrainian presidential election due on January 17, Central Election Commission deputy head Andrei Magera said on Wednesday.

He added that the applications of 54 candidates were rejected. Magera said the commission would hold a draw on Thursday to allocate broadcast time to candidates.

Opinion polls point to Viktor Yanukovych, the president's opponent in the 2004 race, as the leading contender, along with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, an ally-turned-rival of incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko.

Former Supreme Rada speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk is polling third, while Yushchenko himself has support in the low single digits.

Other registered contenders include Supreme Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, former defense minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko and Communist leader Petro Symonenko.

However, pollsters say none of the candidates is likely to garner the 50% plus one vote required to avoid a runoff.

Ukrainians look to the election to end several years of political infighting that has complicated decision-making in the country, which has been hit hard by the global recession.

KIEV, November 18 (RIA Novosti)