President sets early election date in Ukraine

UKRAINIAN president Viktor Yushchenko yesterday called early general elections after dissolving parliament when parties failed to resurrect a ruling pro-western coalition in the former Soviet state.

Yushchenko decreed to “set parliamentary elections for December 7, 2008”, said a statement on his official website, ending weeks of uncertainty about whether the coalition could patch up its differences.

The crisis has raised concerns in the west that pro-Moscow parties may come to power in the eastern European country, casting doubt on Kiev’s attempt to strengthen ties with Washington and Brussels.