Chisinau  - The pro-Western opposition was ahead of the governing Communists in parliamentary elections in Moldova, according to initial figures released by the Central Electoral Commission early Thursday.

After more than three-quarters of the votes had been counted, the Communist Party was on 45.9 per cent.

That would mean the Communists, led by Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin, could lose their overall majority which is needed to form a government.

The four pro-Western opposition parties - the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (16.1 per cent), the Liberal Party (12.9 per cent), the Democratic Party (13.2 per cent) and the Our Moldova Alliance (7.6 per cent) - could choose the president for the first time in eight years if there is a broad-based coalition government.

Wednesday's vote was the second parliamentary election in the last four months.

Voters went to the polls in early elections after the Communist-majority parliament elected in April 5 could not agree on a successor to replace outgoing President Voronin. In Moldova, parliament elects the president, who must be chosen by 61 of the 101-member body.

Voronin said the new vote should help rescue the former Soviet state from its serious political crisis. He has been president since 2001 but is forbidden from seeking a third four-year term.

Negotiations about forming a new government are expected to be tough.

The Democratic Party's Marian Lupu, an economics specialist and former parliamentary president, wants to lead the country out of poverty and into the European Union.

Politics in the country are deeply divided between the pro-Russian Communists and pro-Western parties.

Observers have described the vote as divided along generational lines, with older people supporting the predominantly pro-Russian Communists and youth largely allied with the pro-Western opposition.

Charges of electoral fraud in the April vote led to street riots and a recount, but the outcome remained unchanged. (dpa)