Canadian PM sets May 2 as federal election date

OTTAWA, March 26 (Reuters) - Canada's federal election will be held on Monday May 2, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Saturday.

Harper spoke to reporters after visiting Governor General David Johnston -- the representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state -- to seek the dissolution of Parliament.

Harper's minority Conservative government was defeated on a nonconfidence vote on Friday. Opposition parties accused the government of sleaze, mismanagement and having contempt for Parliament. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Peter Galloway)