Moldovan poll recount to take place on Wednesday

By Dmitry Chubashenko

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Election officials in Moldova Monday set aside a single day, this Wednesday, to conduct a recount of a disputed poll after the ex-Soviet state's president requested the procedure in the aftermath of violent protests.

Moldova's liberal, pro-Western opposition parties allege tampering with voters' lists by the Communist Party, which finished far in front in last week's parliamentary election in the country nestled between Romania and Ukraine.

The Constitutional Court ordered the Central Election Commission to carry out the recount after receiving the request from veteran Communist President Vladimir Voronin.

Voronin accuses his opponents of organising violent protests as part of a coup plot fomented by Romania, but sought the recount on grounds of restoring trust. The opposition demands a new election and has distanced itself from the violence.

"The procedure will take a single day," Eugeniu Stirbu, election commission chairman, told reporters after the court voted to hold the recount. He said district councils would count the ballots and submit figures to the commission.

Stefan Creanga of the Liberal Democrats, one of three opposition parties to win seats in parliament, said most efforts would focus on the voters' lists.

"One day is enough to recount the votes. On election day, it was done in three hours," he said.

"For us, it is more important to check the lists. We are getting copies of the lists at the moment and will present a report on electoral fraud to the commission."