Moldova asks EU to stop Romanian "interference"

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova asked the European Union on Thursday to take action to stop what it said was Romanian interference in its affairs.

Romanian President Traian Basescu has angered Moldova's leaders by backing the country's liberal opposition in a parliamentary election set for July 29.

"We cannot ignore the declarations of Romania's leadership openly supporting political forces in Moldova and Romania's preference for certain forces to come to power in a neighbouring state," a Moldovan government statement said.

It asked the EU to assess the actions of Romania, which is an EU member, and encourage respect for Moldova's sovereignty".

Most of Moldova, Europe's poorest country, was once part of Romania. It shares a language and much of its culture with its western neighbour, though it also has longstanding links with Russia.

Moldova's outgoing Communist president, Vladimir Voronin, moved closer to Romania for a time after accusing Moscow of abetting separatists running Transdniestria region -- one of several "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union.

But Voronin now accuses Bucharest of trying to swallow the country of 4.3 million by offering its citizens passports.

The Communists finished first in an April election but their victory prompted violent protests by young demonstrators furious at the prospect of the party remaining in power. Voronin accused Romania of fomenting the unrest.