Stephen Harper, Canada's prime minister, has dissolved  parliament and set a date for the country's third election in four years.

Harper argued that the snap poll was inevitable to break a deadlock with opposition parties, although many say the timing is to do with giving the Conservative party its best chance of staying in power.

The general election will be on October 14.

The Conservative party has been in power since January 2006, making it the longest-serving minority government in the country's history. 

It beat the Liberal party, which had been in power for nearly 13 years, in elections in 2006.

The Conservative party must win an additional 28 seats to gain a majority in parliament, and analysts say they have a better chance of doing so now rather than later.

Economic woes

Harper has said in recent weeks that elections are needed to deal with a possible recession.

Manufacturing sectors in the most populous provinces, Ontario and Quebec, are suffering due to the global economic slowdown.

Harper used the announcement on Sunday to tell opponents that criticism of his government "masks unclear and risky agendas".

"This government will continue to lead Canada by keeping taxes down and keeping the budget in surplus and limiting spending to clear and affordable objectives," he said.

Harper will press economic issues in his campaigning and oppose an energy tax proposed by the Liberal party.

Robert Bothwell, director of the international relations programme at the University of Toronto, said: "Harper is going for a majority government. That is really the only issue."

The government had enacted a law setting October 19, 2009, as the next election date.

The opposition parties say Harper is violating the spirit of the law by calling an election now.

Harper says an election is needed in order to provide a new mandate, since none of the opposition parties has confidence in his government.