KIEV, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's opposition took to the streets of the capital Kiev on Friday demanding the president and government step down over the leadership's handling of the economy amid the global financial crisis.

Ukraine's largest opposition Party of Regions earlier said it hoped that some 50,000 people would gather in Kiev's central square to protest the government's economic policies, which has seen unemployment double, the economy shrink by at least 25% in the first two months of 2009 alone and a collapse in demand for the country's main exports, steel and chemicals.

The national currency, the hryvnia, has lost around 40% of its value causing further hardship to the commercial and private sector.

The political infighting between Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, both expected to run for president later this year, has compounded the situation.

Also a planned discussion of new stabilization laws, required to secure the second tranche of a much-needed $16.4 billion IMF loan was prevented on Thursday when opposition party members barricaded parliament.

The opposition move came after Ukraine's parliament voted Wednesday overwhelmingly in favor of presidential elections to be held on October 25 this year, three months ahead of the date Yushchenko had pushed for. Yushchenko's approval rating has fallen to single figures.