The rupee weakened by 22 paise to trade at 61.45 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market due to increased demand for the US currency from importers.Forex dealers said besides dollar's gains against other overseas currencies after a US Federal Reserve policystatement gave a better-than-expected outlook on economic conditions, month-end demand from importers for the American currency and a lower opening in the stock market also put pressure on the rupee. The rupee gained 8 paise to close at over two-week high of 61.23 against the US dollar in the previous session.