Protests turn violent after Moldova elections
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 08, 2009 00:00
CHISINAU - Thousands of protesters stormed the parliament and presidency in Moldova yesterday after a rally against a Communist election victory boiled over into violence in Europe's poorest country.
Moldova's ruling Communists - the first Communist Party to win power in the former Soviet Union - swept the weekend's legislative elections by winning half the vote, according to official estimates. But the liberal opposition denounced the results as flawed and thousands of demonstrators turned out in the streets for a second day, hurling stones at the presidency and burning Communist flags.
President Vladimir Voronin said the demonstrators wanted to "destabilize" the country. The Communist victory in the elections means it should have enough seats to choose the next president. Analysts expect Voronin to maintain a considerable influence.
Voronin is set to step down as president on April 7 after two consecutive terms and is barred by the constitution from running for a third. Over 30 people including both protestors and police were injured in the clashes, the head doctor at Chisinau's emergency hospital said.
"The protests will continue until a date is set for new elections," said Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, deputy head of the Liberal Party, one of three liberal opposition parties beaten by the Communists in the vote. "The rallies are justified, their participants are calling for justice to be restored."
Police used water cannon and tear gas but the protestors still managed to enter the presidency and hoisted a European Union flag, an AFP correspondent reported. They also dragged furniture out of the parliament building and set it on fire, filling the air with thick black smoke.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was "very concerned" about the unrest. "Violence against government buildings is unacceptable. Equally important is the respect for the inalienable right of assembly of peaceful demonstrators," he said. Russian Deputy foreign minister said Moscow was following the situation "with concern". He said the violence had been "provoked" but did not specify by whom. Communists won around 50 percent of the vote in the elections, which the OSCE said met "many" standards.
President Vladimir Voronin said the demonstrators wanted to "destabilize" the country. The Communist victory in the elections means it should have enough seats to choose the next president. Analysts expect Voronin to maintain a considerable influence.
Voronin is set to step down as president on April 7 after two consecutive terms and is barred by the constitution from running for a third. Over 30 people including both protestors and police were injured in the clashes, the head doctor at Chisinau's emergency hospital said.
"The protests will continue until a date is set for new elections," said Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, deputy head of the Liberal Party, one of three liberal opposition parties beaten by the Communists in the vote. "The rallies are justified, their participants are calling for justice to be restored."
Police used water cannon and tear gas but the protestors still managed to enter the presidency and hoisted a European Union flag, an AFP correspondent reported. They also dragged furniture out of the parliament building and set it on fire, filling the air with thick black smoke.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was "very concerned" about the unrest. "Violence against government buildings is unacceptable. Equally important is the respect for the inalienable right of assembly of peaceful demonstrators," he said. Russian Deputy foreign minister said Moscow was following the situation "with concern". He said the violence had been "provoked" but did not specify by whom. Communists won around 50 percent of the vote in the elections, which the OSCE said met "many" standards.