Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved his country's parliament on Monday and immediately called new parliamentary elections to happen on May 27, Russian news agencies reported.

In a nationwide televised address, Yushchenko announced that following consultations with the leadership of all parties, he had decided on the dissolution, Itar-Tass reported. However, his decree will only come into effect once published in the official government newspaper.

However, Prime Minister Yanukovych opposes the move and the Ukrainian parliament issued a ban on the press publishing Yushchenko's decree. A further move was to order members of parliament to only abide government instructions and parliament resolutions.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)