President Calls New Elections

Sri Lanka’s government dissolved Parliament early and called quick elections in a bid to strengthen its political hand and end a war with Tamil separatists that has killed at least 62,000 people. Parliament’s term would have ended in six days. Elections will be held Oct. 10, and the new Parliament will convene Oct. 18. President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s move came after the government failed to win parliamentary approval of a new constitution granting autonomy to Tamil regions. She had hoped that the new constitution would satisfy Tamil moderates and reduce support for the rebels’ 17-year war for independence.