This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28931054
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Ukraine crisis: President calls snap vote amid fighting | Ukraine crisis: President calls snap vote amid fighting |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ukraine's president has dissolved parliament and called snap elections, as government forces continue to fight pro-Russian rebel forces in the east. | Ukraine's president has dissolved parliament and called snap elections, as government forces continue to fight pro-Russian rebel forces in the east. |
Petro Poroshenko said many current MPs were backers of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and that the majority of Ukrainians wanted a new parliament. | Petro Poroshenko said many current MPs were backers of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and that the majority of Ukrainians wanted a new parliament. |
Elections would be held on 26 October, he said in a TV address. | Elections would be held on 26 October, he said in a TV address. |
Separately, Ukraine's military says it clashed with rebel armoured vehicles that entered the country from Russia. | Separately, Ukraine's military says it clashed with rebel armoured vehicles that entered the country from Russia. |
More than 2,000 people have died in months of fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | More than 2,000 people have died in months of fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
The two regions declared independence from Kiev, following Russia's annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. | The two regions declared independence from Kiev, following Russia's annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. |
'Tanks destroyed' | |
In the address late on Monday, Mr Poroshenko said he acted fully in accordance with the Ukrainian constitution, which states that new elections must be held if a ruling coalition in parliament is not formed within 30 days. | |
The previous coalition collapsed on 24 July. | |
The president stressed that the "current composition of the parliament has been the mainstay of (President) Yanukovych", who was forced to flee Ukraine amid mass street protests in February. | |
"Elections is the best way of cleaning things up," he said. | |
Earlier on Monday, Ukraine's military said a column of 10 tanks and two armoured personnel carriers had crossed from Russia and been heading towards the south-eastern port of Mariupol. | |
It said Ukrainian troops destroyed two tanks, blocking the area. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had not heard the reports about the alleged incursion, but complained of regular "disinformation about our 'incursions'". | |
Heavy fighting on Monday was also reported in and around Donetsk - the biggest rebel-held city. | |
Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels in the east and sending its troops into the country - a charge the Kremlin denies. | Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels in the east and sending its troops into the country - a charge the Kremlin denies. |
On Tuesday, Mr Poroshenko is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at talks in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. |