Ukraine's president dissolves Parliament and calls for elections

President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine [has] signed an order to dissolve Parliament and called early elections.

Yushchenko, who acted after more than seven hours of talks with parliamentary leaders failed, accused the parliamentary majority led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych of seeking to expand its power base in violation of the constitution, and of making decisions that violated the law.

... As Yushchenko spoke, Parliament met in an extraordinary session. Yanukovych and top government officials sat in the hall looking glum ... It was not immediately clear if the 450-seat legislative body would try to ignore the ruling.

Full article (English) here.