Moldovan police have detained 193 protesters in the capital Chisinau, including eight under-aged people, Russian RIA news agency quoted the Interior Ministry as saying on Wednesday.

"They have been charged with looting, hooliganism, robbery and criminal attacks," RIA quoted a ministry spokeswoman as saying.

Demonstrators protesting against the election victory of the ruling Communist party ransacked the president's offices and set fire to parliament in an action described by President Vladimir Voronin as a coup d'etat. The police now say they fully control Chisinau.

President Vladimir Voronin called on the West to help restore order and accused the opposition of attempting a coup after violence swept the capital of Europe's poorest country.

One woman died and about a hundred people were hurt after protesters, who say Sunday's parliamentary election was rigged, ransacked Voronin's offices and looted parliament, where fires raged into the night.

"The police intend to uphold public order," Meleca said by telephone. "If necessary, they will use special means, including firearms."

Reuters reporters at the scene said dozens of riot police had regained control of the buildings in central Chisinau during the early hours and were standing outside both.

Hundreds of demonstrators were no longer outside the buildings. A Reuters reporter also saw some groups of armed special forces troops in the centre of the capital.

The authorities had apparently closed Moldova's borders. A Reuters photographer was not allowed to cross the border from Romania. Other foreign correspondents say they were not allowed to enter from Ukraine.

Officials could not be immediately contacted for comment.

Opposition leaders condemned Tuesday's violence but demanded new elections. Some protesters demanded the resignation of Voronin, who is due to step down after the poll because of constitutional limits on a third term.

Opposition leaders were meeting early on Wednesday to consider their next moves, Liberal-Democratic Party leader Vlad Filat told Reuters.

Opposition supporters had said earlier they would join new protests on Wednesday. "I can tell you tomorrow 10 buses with protesters will move to Chisinau from my district alone," one opposition activist told Reuters by telephone from a rural area.

He said if police blocked roads they would walk to the capital.

Official election results put the Communists in front with close to 50 percent of the vote.

RIA news agency quoted the Interior Ministry as saying nearly 100 policemen were injured during the riots, 43 of them taken to hospital.

Reuters