UPDATE - UK premier announces general election on July 4

UPDATES WITH PRESSER BY UK PREMIER

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced that general election in the UK would be held on July 4.

During his address at the Downing Street, Sunak said that the country will head to polls on Thursday, July 4.

"Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of parliament. The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on the fourth of July," he announced.

Sunak said that this election will take place at a time when the world is "more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War."

It came after a Cabinet meeting chaired by him at the Prime Minister's Office in Downing Street.

During the Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons, Scottish National Party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn asked Sunak if he was "feart" (scared) of holding an election.

The prime minister replied that the election would take place in the second half of the year, a time previously mentioned several times.

Separately, Keir Starmer, the main opposition Labour Party leader, will reportedly address the nation later Wednesday responding to the election announcement.