7 May 2012

Early election wanted in Israel

9:44 am on 7 May 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an early general election in four months.

The vote is expected to take place in September, a year before he is required by law to seek a new mandate.

Mr Netanyahu leads a centre-right coalition which includes his Likud and the Labour Party of Ehud Barak.

He has been prime minister since 2009. Opinion polls suggest he is the most popular politician in Israel.