Ukrainian president dissolves parliament, sets election date
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Supporters of the pro-Russian government coalition wave blue and white flags of the Regions party.
KIEV : Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Monday ordered the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections, as thousands of protesters vowed to defy his decision.
"Today I signed the decree interrupting the parliament's powers before term," Yushchenko said in a televised speech, adding that "this is not only my right, it is my duty."
According to the decree, new parliamentary elections are due to be held May 27.
The dissolution will be effective once the decree is published in the official newspaper, a member of the central electoral committee, Andrei Maguera, told AFP.
Yushchenko had earlier accused lawmakers from the ruling pro-Russia majority of trying to "usurp power" in this former Soviet republic and bolster its ranks in an "unconstitutional" way of persuading parliament members to change sides.
Thousands of supporters of the governing coalition rallied in Kiev and set up a tent camp for round-the-clock protests in scenes reminiscent of the 2004 "Orange Revolution" that brought Yushchenko to power.
The crisis comes after months of mounting tension between Yushchenko, a strongly pro-West politician, and the coalition formed after the March 2006 parliamentary elections win by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the head of the Regions party and Yushchenko's arch-rival.
The coalition currently controls 250 of the 450 seats in parliament, and with 50 more it could change the constitution to further weaken the president.
Yushchenko's opponents, emboldened by constitutional reforms last year that curbed his powers, said the president's threat to call early elections was unconstitutional. - AFP/de
Anglo$axons are preparing another colourful revolution, i'm just curious to know which colour they'll choose this time...
