As President Viktor Yushchenko extended his deadline, Ukraine's lawmakers on Friday began voting on a series of bills needed to hold early elections. Ukraine has been embroiled in a political crisis since Yushchenko issued a decree on April 2 to dissolve the parliament and to call early elections.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has extended his deadline for parliament to pass a series of laws needed to hold early elections, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, is due to begin two days of meetings aimed at passing a package of bills enabling the country to hold early elections September 30.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says he is willing to suspend his decree dissolving parliament if lawmakers implement a series of political reforms, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported. Yushchenko made his comments at a press conference in Kyiv today after meeting Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukraine's Constitutional Court has begun hearings in the capital, Kyiv, Tuesday on the legality of President Viktor Yushchenko's decree, dissolving parliament and calling new elections. The court is taking up the case one week later than planned, after several judges asked for protection, alleging that political pressure was being exerted against them.