Moldova's president calls for election recount

By Dmitry Chubashenko and Sabina Zawadzki

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin called on Friday for a recount of an election, saying it would restore trust and calm after violent demonstrations by protesters alleging the vote was rigged.

Opposition parties said the president's offer was meaningless and intended to distract attention from mass fraud on voters' lists. The parties have demanded a new election in the country of 4 million wedged between Ukraine and Romania.

Voronin, Europe's only ruling communist, asked the Constitutional Court to allow a recount of the April 5 vote, in which the communists finished far in front with nearly 50 percent of the vote.

The court, dominated by his supporters, is likely to agree.

"I, as chairman of the party which gained undoubted victory in the fair and democratic contest, approach the Constitutional Court for a clear decision on the need for a full recount of the votes cast in the parliamentary election," Voronin said.

"A full recount ... would be an important argument for the restoration of political stability, peace and mutual confidence in the Moldovan Republic," he said in the request, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

The president's office later said Voronin had met U.S. Ambassador Asif Chaudhry and promised to take steps to create dialogue between the authorities and the opposition.

In Washington, a U.S. State Department spokesman told reporters the United States welcomed the call for a recount. He said Chaudhry also met opposition leaders and that on Thursday the opposition was given four days to review voter rolls.