Niger leader dissolves parliament

Niger's president has dissolved parliament after the country's constitutional court ruled against plans to hold a referendum on whether to allow him a third term in office.Mamadou Tandja gave the order to dissolve the legislature on Tuesday, hours after the court said a move by the ruling coalition to hold a public vote on a third presidential term was illegal."On the advice of the prime minister and the speaker of parliament, the president of the republic signed today ... a decree dissolving parliament," state radio said.Tandja's attempt to change the constitution has prompted demonstrations across the country and has been opposed by several members of his coalition government.His second term in office is set to expire later this year but the government sought a vote on constitutional changes to allow him to run in elections scheduled for November.According to the constitution, a new parliament will now have to be elected within three months, but there was no immediate presidential announcement on a new election date.