Greenland to hold parliamentary elections in June

COPENHAGEN - Greenland's premier has called elections for June 2, saying he wants voters to decide who will govern the semiautonomous Danish territory once it gets more say in own affairs.

The elections to fill the 31 seats in the Arctic island's Parliament will come more than five months before the present assembly's four-year term was scheduled to end. They will also take place before June 21 celebrations that will mark the beginning of greater self-determination.

In a Nov. 25. referendum, Greenland voters overwhelmingly approved more autonomy from Denmark. The huge island presently relies on Danish subsidies.

Greenland Premier Hans Enoksen's Siumut party has been in power since 1979, when Greenland won initial semiautonomous status.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)