Ireland announces elections

Ireland's government has announced that voters will elect a new parliament on February 25, providing a 3 1/2-week campaign focused on the nation's debt crisis.

Confirmation of the election date followed Prime Minister Brian Cowen's farewell address to parliament. His speech Tuesday was tinged with regret over the nation's plunge to
the brink of bankruptcy.

Cowen says voters' choices Feb. 25 will determine “whether Ireland moves forward from this recession, or whether we prolong it or indeed succumb to it.”

Cowen is not seeking re-election. He agreed to an early election, rather than trying to serve his full term to mid-2012, after suffering a string of political set-backs and losing his parliamentary majority last month.

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