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| Moldova students raid parliament | Moldova students raid parliament |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Demonstrators in Moldova have attacked the country's parliament in protest at the victory of the governing Communist Party in Sunday's general election. | |
| Witnesses say crowds poured into the building through smashed ground-floor windows and shortly after hurled furniture out and set it alight. | Witnesses say crowds poured into the building through smashed ground-floor windows and shortly after hurled furniture out and set it alight. |
| Police said a woman died from carbon monoxide poisoning after inhaling fumes in a blaze, state television reported. | |
| President Vladimir Voronin has called for an end to the "destabilisation". | President Vladimir Voronin has called for an end to the "destabilisation". |
| "Challenging the results of the election is no more than a pretext," Interfax news agency quoted Mr Voronin as telling a cabinet meeting. | "Challenging the results of the election is no more than a pretext," Interfax news agency quoted Mr Voronin as telling a cabinet meeting. |
| EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged all sides in the former Soviet state to refrain from violence. Russia has also voiced its concern. | EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged all sides in the former Soviet state to refrain from violence. Russia has also voiced its concern. |
| Alexandru Oleinic, an opposition MP, told Reuters that the leaders of the three main opposition parties were now holding talks with the president and Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii. | Alexandru Oleinic, an opposition MP, told Reuters that the leaders of the three main opposition parties were now holding talks with the president and Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii. |
| He gave no details of what the talks would entail. | He gave no details of what the talks would entail. |
| Interfax said that Mr Voronin would make an address to the nation on Tuesday evening. | Interfax said that Mr Voronin would make an address to the nation on Tuesday evening. |
| Election 'was fraudulent' | Election 'was fraudulent' |
| Tear gas and jets of water were blasted at protesters by security forces defending the parliament building in the capital, Chisinau. The presidential office, opposite, was also attacked. | Tear gas and jets of water were blasted at protesters by security forces defending the parliament building in the capital, Chisinau. The presidential office, opposite, was also attacked. |
| More than 30 people - including protesters and police - were injured, medical officials said. Later, Moldovan state television said one woman "choked to death from carbon monoxide poisoning in the parliament building". | |
| Representatives of opposition parties are among the protesters. | Representatives of opposition parties are among the protesters. |
| In pictures: Moldova protests | In pictures: Moldova protests |
| They believe the election result was fraudulent. | They believe the election result was fraudulent. |
| The Mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca, who is deputy head of the opposition Liberal Party, said the protests were justified "because people did not vote for the communists in such large numbers". | The Mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca, who is deputy head of the opposition Liberal Party, said the protests were justified "because people did not vote for the communists in such large numbers". |
| The communists won 50% of votes in the election declared "fair" by observers. | The communists won 50% of votes in the election declared "fair" by observers. |
| They were followed by the centre-right Liberal Party with almost 13% of the votes, and the Liberal Democratic Party with 12%. | They were followed by the centre-right Liberal Party with almost 13% of the votes, and the Liberal Democratic Party with 12%. |
| Reports from the country say local television stations are off-air and the national radio station is broadcasting folk music. | Reports from the country say local television stations are off-air and the national radio station is broadcasting folk music. |
| No reports about the protest have been included in its radio news bulletins. | No reports about the protest have been included in its radio news bulletins. |
| Opposition reject coalition | Opposition reject coalition |
| Mr Solana said he was "very concerned" over the situation. | Mr Solana said he was "very concerned" over the situation. |
| "I call on all sides to refrain from violence and provocation. Violence against government buildings is unacceptable," he said in a statement. | "I call on all sides to refrain from violence and provocation. Violence against government buildings is unacceptable," he said in a statement. |
| "Equally important is the respect for the inalienable right of assembly of peaceful demonstrators." | "Equally important is the respect for the inalienable right of assembly of peaceful demonstrators." |
| Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said he was concerned about the protests which he described as "provoked". | Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said he was concerned about the protests which he described as "provoked". |
| President Voronin is expected to step down after two terms in office. | President Voronin is expected to step down after two terms in office. |
| He is barred by the constitution from running for a third term, although he has indicated he wants to remain involved in affairs of state. | He is barred by the constitution from running for a third term, although he has indicated he wants to remain involved in affairs of state. |
| Parliament chooses his successor and the communists have the biggest party in the new parliament - but do not have sufficient votes to select the president alone. | Parliament chooses his successor and the communists have the biggest party in the new parliament - but do not have sufficient votes to select the president alone. |
| If no president is chosen before 8 June, another parliamentary election must be held. | 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. |
| 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 conflict between Georgia and Russia. | Correspondents say the dispute is reminiscent of the situation in South Ossetia before last summer's conflict 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. Mr Voronin resumed direct talks with Trans-Dniester last year. | 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. |