New elections set for deadlocked Moldova

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) -- Moldovan lawmakers failed for a second time Wednesday to elect a president, meaning the Parliament elected in April will be dissolved and a new election will be held this summer.

The country has been in political paralysis since the last parliamentary elections, on April 5 . The Communist Party won the most votes, but opponents charged the election was rigged, and violent protests in which at least two people died broke out.

Protesters stormed the parliament building and the president's office. Authorities reacted harshly, arbitrarily arresting people and beating them, according to some international human rights organizations.

Before Wednesday's vote in Parliament, outgoing President Vladimir Voronin, who heads the Communist Party, tried to persuade members of the opposition to support the party's presidential candidate, former prime minister Zinaida Greceanii.

But opposition parties boycotted the vote.

"We cannot accept the illegal actions taken by the Communists in recent months and the eight years they have been in power," said Vlad Filat, who heads the Liberal Democratic Party.

The Communists won 60 seats in the April election. But they needed 61 votes to elect a new president. They failed elect a president on the first attempt, May 20.

"Now we have all the reasons for dissolving the current parliament," Voronin said after the Wednesday vote.

The country will hold elections 45 days after Voronin signs a decree dissolving the legislature. No date was given.

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