Around 10,000 opposition supporters rallied in Moldova on Sunday to denounce President Vladimir Voronin's "dictatorial" leadership after post-election rioting in the east European state.

The demonstrators gathered in front of the main government building on Sunday for a series of fiery anti-government speeches, denouncing a crackdown on the opposition.

The demonstrators said they were demanding the government's release of some 200 anti-government activists arrested in the wake of violent protests over the election.

Election recount request delayed

Moldova's Constitutional Court on Saturday postponed for one day a hearing on the president's request for a recount of the vote in disputed parliamentary elections won by the president's Communist Party.

President Vladimir Voronin, whose Communist Party ended the elections on Sunday far ahead of its rivals, says the pro-Western and liberal opposition had plotted a coup.

He has also accused neighbouring Romania of fomenting the turmoil, in which protesters ransacked parliament and the president's office. But he offered the recount on grounds that it would restore trust and calm.

The court said it would consider his request on Sunday provided it received official results from election officials.

"At this stage we have not received the necessary documents from the Central Election Commission," court chairman Dumitru Pulbere told reporters in the court's session hall.

He said the commission had promised to deliver official results on Sunday morning and the Court would then sit.

"We are trying to work as quickly as possible. There is no precedent of a recount in Moldova since independence in 1991," Pulbere said. "In any case, we have 10 days to validate the election results."

The new parliament is to decide on a new president to replace Voronin.

Agencies