Ukrainian President Offers To Postpone Elections

Pro-Yanukovych demonstrators in Kyiv on April 13 (AFP) April 16, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said today that he has offered his rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, to postpone early parliamentary elections originally planned for May 27, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

Yushchenko on April 2 signed a decree to dissolve parliament and call early elections after accusing lawmakers close to Yanukovych of illegally poaching deputies from pro-presidential factions.

The prime minister and his allies have strongly opposed early elections.

Yushchenko earlier today ordered prosecutors and police to take action against any official who refuses to obey his decree.

The Constitutional Court on April 17 is due to begin hearings on the decree's legality.

FURTHER READING
Constitutional Court Takes Center Stage As Ukraine's political standoff continues, attention has shifted to the Constitutional Court. Is it ready to resolve such a dangerous dispute? more	How Should Constitutional Courts Work? RFE/RL spoke with Wojciech Sadurski, a professor at the legal department of the European University Institute in Florence. more