Canada governor general agrees to suspend Parliament

OTTAWA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean has agreed to suspend Parliament until late January, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday.

Harper made the request to suspend Parliament as he combats a plan by opposition parties to defeat his minority Conservative government next Monday and replace it with a coalition government.

Harper said the first item of business for Parliament when it resumes will be the budget.

The opposition Liberal, New Democrat and Bloc Quebecois parties had urged Jean, who represents the head of state, Queen Elizabeth, in Canada, not to suspend Parliament so they could form a new government. (Reporting by Randall Palmer, David Ljunggren, Writing Allan Dowd, editing by Peter Galloway)