Kiev - Ukraine's parliament has voted to hold presidential elections in the country in October, earlier than expected in a further sign of resistance to the government of incumbent Viktor Yushchenko.

In the Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, 401 of 422 representatives voted on Wednesday for the presidential poll to be held on October 25, earlier than a previously suggested date in January 2010, the end of Yushchenko's mandate.

Yushchenko's political rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as the opposition have called for the vote to be brought forward, as the financial crisis and political infighting have paralyzed the Ukrainian government in recent months.

It is expected that Yushchenko will appeal against the vote in the constitutional court, although his approval ratings currently lie under five per cent.

On Tuesday the president called for constitutional reform, a move that met with categorical refusal in parliament. (dpa)