Moldovan authorities to review parliamentary election results

The parties also agreed to do everything possible to stop the violence, which has left hundreds of people injured, although opposition leaders said they had lost control of the situation. The protests in Chisinau began on Monday, following the Communist Party's victory in Sunday's parliamentary polls, but turned violent on Tuesday. Communist President Vladimir Voronin is due to step down on May 7, but the Communist Party won just enough seats in parliament to be able to elect a successor without the votes of any other party. Thousands of anti-communist protesters seized the presidential residence and the nearby parliament building. Police have withdrawn from both buildings, parts of which were on fire, and rioters were looting offices and burning furniture in the street. A police source said earlier that "some 400 out of 800 members of the inter-service force that was guarding the buildings of the presidential administration and the parliament were injured and sought medical assistance as a result of the protesters' attacks." The Moldovan Central Election Committee pledged to recount the ballots within 10 days. Voronin, one of only two communist leaders in Europe along with the Cypriot president, has served two consecutive terms since his election in 2001. Under the constitution, he is banned from seeking a third consecutive term; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. Full version can be found at www.en.rian.ru