Copenhagen - The Prime Minister, Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, yesterday called a snap general election in Denmark on November 20th, citing increased uncertainty after the September attacks on the United States.
"In times of uncertainty after September 11th and with major decisions to be made on security, four months of election campaigning would not be good for Denmark," he said.
"The world is not the same. In these times of uncertainty, security has to be ensured, increased cohesion and solidarity is needed, Denmark must not be split," he added.
Despite a recent recovery in opinion polls, surveys point to a possible change of government, with the centre-right opposition ousting the ruling Social Democrats who have been in power since 1993.
A general election was due by mid-March, 2002, at the latest.
Denmark is also to hold local elections on November 20th.
Mr Rasmussen also said it was important to give a new government, whatever the outcome might be, sufficient time to prepare to host the six-month rotating EU presidency, which Denmark takes over on July 1st, 2002.