Moldova's president accused the opposition of attempting a violent coup on Tuesday after protesters denouncing an election win by his ruling Communist party ransacked his offices and parliament.

As many as 10,000 demonstrators massed for a second straight day in the capital of Europe's poorest country after the Communist Party led by veteran president Vladimir Voronin scored a big victory in a weekend parliamentary election.

Opposition leaders condemned the violence and demanded a new election to resolve the confrontation with Voronin, the only Communist president in Europe.

"Everything that they have undertaken in the last 24 hours cannot be described as anything other than a coup d'etat," Voronin said in a television address.

"The authorites in Moldova will not allow groups of fascists intoxicated with hatred to trample on our democracy," he said, adding that opposition leaders had "embarked on the path of violent seizure of power".

Voronin made his comments after meeting opposition leaders, who denied reports by Russian news agencies that the authorities had agreed to a recount in the elections. Official results put the Communists in front with close to 50 percent of the vote.

The leaders of three opposition parties that won seats in parliament spoke to reporters after emerging from talks with Moldova's president and prime minister in the aftermath of the protests.

"We must stop this violence," said Dorin Chirtoaca, leader of the Liberal Party and mayor of Chisinau. "We must secure the right to a recount of all the votes. And we demanded the right to stage peaceful protests."

Vlad Filat of the Liberal Democrats said the opposition, which stands broadly for closer ties with neighbouring Romania, was demanding the right to check all electoral lists.

"As a result of this, I can assure you that the elections were rigged and we will organise a new election."

Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 08 Nisan 2009, 13:46