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| Moldova students smash parliament | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Students in Moldova have attacked the country's parliament in protest at the governing Communist Party, which won the general election on Sunday. | Students in Moldova have attacked the country's parliament in protest at the governing Communist Party, which won the general election on Sunday. |
| Witnesses say crowds poured into the building through smashed ground-floor windows. They hurled furniture out and set it alight. | |
| More than 30 people, including both protesters and police officers, were injured, the head doctor at a hospital in Chisinau told the AFP news agency. | |
| A truce may now have been agreed. | |
| Tear gas and jets of water were blasted at protesters by security forces defending the parliament building. | Tear gas and jets of water were blasted at protesters by security forces defending the parliament building. |
| The Communists won 50% of votes in the election declared "fair" by observers. | |
| They were followed by the centre-right opposition Liberal Party with almost 13% of the votes, and the Liberal Democratic Party with 12%. | They were followed by the centre-right opposition Liberal Party with almost 13% of the votes, and the Liberal Democratic Party with 12%. |
| It is still not clear whether the Communists will win the 61 seats in the 101-seat parliament that they need to elect a new president unopposed. | |
| President Vladimir Voronin is expected to step down on Tuesday after two terms in office. | President Vladimir Voronin is expected to step down on Tuesday after two terms in office. |
| He is barred by the constitution from running for a third, although he has indicated he wants to remain involved in the affairs of state. | He is barred by the constitution from running for a third, although he has indicated he wants to remain involved in the affairs of state. |
| Parliament will begin the process of electing his successor on Wednesday. If no president is chosen before 8 June, another parliamentary election must be held. | Parliament will begin the process of electing his successor on Wednesday. If no president is chosen before 8 June, another parliamentary election must be held. |
| The pro-Western centre-right opposition parties have said they will not join a coalition with the communists, who favour strong links with both Russia and the European Union. | The pro-Western centre-right opposition parties have said they will not join a coalition with the communists, who favour strong links with both Russia and the European Union. |
| Breakaway region | Breakaway region |
| Mr Voronin's successor will lead the poorest country in Europe, where the average wage is just under $250 (£168) a month, and will inherit an unresolved conflict over the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester. | Mr Voronin's successor will lead the poorest country in Europe, where the average wage is just under $250 (£168) a month, and will inherit an unresolved conflict over the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester. |
| Correspondents say the dispute is reminiscent of the situation in South Ossetia before last summer's war between Georgia and Russia. | Correspondents say the dispute is reminiscent of the situation in South Ossetia before last summer's war between Georgia and Russia. |
| The region has run its own affairs, with Moscow's support, since the end of hostilities in a brief war in 1992. | The region has run its own affairs, with Moscow's support, since the end of hostilities in a brief war in 1992. |
| Mr Voronin resumed direct talks with Trans-Dniester last year. | Mr Voronin resumed direct talks with Trans-Dniester last year. |