Chisinau - Leaders of Moldova's opposition on Thursday announced plans to boycott the next parliament as the country's supreme court set a deadline for a political showdown in the former Soviet republic.

"We will not participate in the election of a president, and in parliamentary sessions that will discuss it," said Mihai Gimpu, leader of the opposition Liberal Party of Molodva (LPM).

Disputed national elections earlier this month gave the ruling Communists 60 seats in Moldova's 101-seat legislature, prompting violent clashes in the capital, Chisinau.

Opposition demonstrators accused the communists of voter fraud and battled with police on April 7, leaving one dead, hundreds injured, and the parliament building ransacked and partially burnt.

According to the constitution, Moldova's next president must be voted into office by the new parliament, by a 61 member majority.

However, three opposition parties, including the LPM, control 41 seats in Moldova's legislature, according to a vote recount completed by the Central Election Commission on Wednesday - creating a potential deadlock.

Moldova's Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon set a limit on time allowed for the legislature to select a president, ruling that parliament must choose the chief executive by July 7.

If parliament fails to agree on a president by that date, the parliament must dissolve and new elections be held, the court opinion said, setting the rival factions on a possible collision course once again.

Independent observers including monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ruled Moldova's April 5 elections were generally free and fair.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, head of the Communist Party, took control of the country's top office in 2001, and has held it ever since. He is prevented by Constitutional statute of continuing in office. (dpa)