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Irish Prime Minister Set to Disband Parliament

   VOA News  January 28, 2011
   Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen (File)

Photo: AFP

   Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen (File)

   Ireland's  prime minister says he will disband parliament next Tuesday
   and announce a date for early national election.
   Brian Cowen made the comments on state-run radio on Friday.
   Mr.  Cowen  had  previously  set  an election date of March 11 but the
   opposition wants the vote held earlier.
   The election is now expected to take place late next month.
   On  Thursday,  Ireland's  lower house of parliament  passed a finance
   bill to secure an international bailout loan.
   The  upper  house  of the parliament begins debate Friday on austerity
   measures  to bring Ireland in compliance with terms of the $91 billion
   international loan package.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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