Moldova Communists lose majority

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Moldova's governing Communist Party appears to have lost its majority in parliament, according to preliminary results from Wednesday's election.

With 97% of ballots counted, the four main opposition parties have 50.7% compared with 45.1% for the Communists.

Opposition leaders say they will form an alliance if the result is confirmed.

Wednesday's vote was a re-run of the election in April, which was followed by days of violent demonstrations because of allegations of vote-rigging.

The Communist Party has been in government in Moldova since 2001.

'Victory for truth'

If the preliminary results of Wednesday's election were confirmed, the Communists would have only 48 seats in the 101-seat parliament and its opponents 53 seats, the central election commission said.

MOLDOVA ELECTION Communist Party - 45.1%Liberal Democratic Party - 16.4%Liberal Party - 14.4%Democratic Party - 12.5%Our Moldova Alliance - 7.4% <i>Based on 97% of votes countedSource: Central Election Commission</i>

The opposition are likely to receive more votes when those won by three parties who failed to reach the 5% minimum threshold are redistributed.

The results are already being seen as a decisive success for the four pro-Western, pro-European parties, says the BBC's Tom Esslemont in Chisinau.

The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vlad Filat, said the election was a victory for truth and that it would definitely seek to form a coalition with its allies - the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party and Our Moldova Alliance.

"We will find the necessary compromise and find agreement so that Moldova finally gets democratic rule," he told the Reuters news agency.

We will find the necessary compromise and find agreement so that Moldova finally gets democratic rule Vlad FilatLeader, Liberal Democratic Party

But despite his optimism there is a major obstacle to be tackled, our correspondent says.

The four parties have won enough seats to form a government, but not the 61 needed to meet the three-fifths majority required to elect a successor to outgoing President Vladimir Voronin.

If the opposition cannot reach an accommodation with the Communists, parliament will be deadlocked.

The election was called because parliament was in stalemate over the same issue. April's vote gave the Communists 60 seats in the parliament, but not one of the opposition MPs backed their choice of president.

Now analysts say there is a need for dialogue between all parties.

However, it is too early to say how that co-operation might be achieved, our correspondent adds.