Greek opposition calls for early elections

ATHENS, Feb 2 (Reuters) Greece's main opposition socialists submitted a censure motion in parliament today, calling for early elections because of what they said was the conservative government's failure.

''The government has grown old very fast,'' socialist PASOK party chief George Papandreou told parliament. ''They have registered only pitiful failures ... and we demand elections.

Enough is enough.'' The ruling New Democracy party, which swept to power in 2004 ending an 11-year socialist rule, were embarrassed this week when they failed to push through a constitutional revision due to a mutiny among its own deputies.

This was the first sign of cracks in the government after three years in office. Elections have to take place by the spring of 2008 but analysts have said the government could call them as early as this spring.

The government holds a comfortable majority in parliament and the motion is not expected to topple it. But it could block the constitutional revision and weaken its strength at a point that could be months ahead of elections.

REUTERS AB HT1635