Ukraine`s president has set a Dec. 7 date for snap elections after dissolving parliament.

Yushchenko ordered parliament dissolved Wednesday and called the early vote after the pro-Western coalition with his estranged Orange Revolution partner Yulia Tymoshenko collapsed and no new alliance was forged.

He set the date for new elections in a decree Thursday.

Видео дня

The vote will be the third parliamentary election in this politically volatile ex-Soviet country in as many years.

It is likely to throw the country into further turmoil, as Tymoshenko said she was would contest the decision.

Yushchenko pulled out of the coalition last month after Tymoshenko moved to trim his powers and over ties with Russia.

AP