Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso today decreed the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for early elections.

He will govern by decree until a date is set for the elections and new authorities are elected.

This comes a day after the start of an impeachment trial against him for alleged embezzlement , charges he denies.

In a message to the nation, the President said he had resorted to a constitutional power known as "cross-death".

This allows him to govern by decree for six months through measures that must be validated by the Constitutional Court.

According to him, he took the decision because Congress wants to "destabilise the government, democracy and the state".

"All the efforts of the legislative branch are focused on destabilising the government with an unfounded impeachment," the Head of State said.