KIEV, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Wednesday a constitutional coup has taken place in the country's parliament.

    "A political and constitutional coup d'etat has taken place in the parliament," Yushchenko said in a televised speech.

    He accused Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party of siding with the opposition Party of Regions and the communists.

    Yushchenko also threatened to call a snap election.

    "If... a coalition of factions is not created, I will use my right to dismiss parliament and announce early elections," he stressed.

    The pro-presidential "Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense" party decided to quit the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko last night in response to the adoption of a series of laws that would weaken the powers of the president, laws initiated by the Party of Regions in league with the Tymoshenko bloc.