KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Ukrainians will go to the polls for the third time in less than three years after President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved parliament Wednesday evening.
Yushchenko took the action after members of the Supreme Rada were unable to formulate a new ruling coalition, RIA Novosti reported. The announcement came in the form of a prerecorded speech on national television while Yushchenko was in Italy, the Russian news agency said.
No date was set for the snap national elections.
"In conformity with the constitution, I am announcing the termination of the Supreme Rada's powers and the holding of parliamentary elections," the president said in his address. "The vote will take place in a democratic and lawful fashion."
The September collapse of the pro-Western ruling coalition, he said, was the fault of Prime Minster Yulia Tymoshenko.
"By October 8, 2008 I have not received a single proposal from any political force on the formation of a majority coalition," Yushchenko said. "Accordingly ... the Ukrainian people must decide."
