Ukrainian Parliament Calls For December Polls

Demonstrations in Kyiv (epa) April 30, 2007 -- Ukraine's parliament today passed a resolution calling for simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections to be held by December 9.

Earlier this month, Yushchenko signed a decree dissolving parliament and ordering new parliamentary elections.

Yushchenko's rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and his majority in parliament have boycotted the presidential decree and challenged it in the Constitutional Court.

Parliament speaker Oleksandr Moroz said today's resolution requires that changes be made to the constitution:

"We're adopting a resolution that calls for such elections to be held in late November or early December, because under the constitution elections can be held no earlier than 90 days after such a right is granted," he said. "And this right is granted by making changes to the constitutions, which, according to parliamentary procedure, we cannot do earlier than September 2 to September 7."

The president has ruled out an early presidential ballot and set parliamentary elections for June 24.

(compiled from agency reports)