( Deutsche-Welle ) - In a move aimed at putting further pressure on Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, parliament has set its own date for early presidential and parliamentary elections. The non-binding resolution set December 9 as the day for the combined polls.
Earlier this month, the pro-Western Yushchenko issued a decree dissolving parliament and calling snap elections for May 27, before rescheduling the poll for June 24. However Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Russian parliamentary majority refused to follow the order and have taken the matter before the Constitutional Court.