Chisinau - A Moldovan opposition party accused the ruling Communists of using western-donated humanitarian aid to buy votes in upcoming parliament elections, the Infotag news agency reported Friday.

A statement from the Our Moldova Alliance (AMN) claimed government officials were handing out to potential voters food and goods sent the former Soviet republic in 2007 and 2008 by Europeans concerned with droughts and floods hitting Moldova at the time.

The AMN is Moldova's top opposition political party. The Communist Party of Moldova (CPM) currently holds a strong majority in parliament, with new elections scheduled April 5.

Potential voters nationwide "are being bought with western donations", the opposition claimed in part.

Residents of the village Brichen in a meeting with Communist party member Marian Lupu received bags of foreign-donated food drawn from a provincial warehouse operated by the government, according to the report.

Other handouts in villages across the country have included sewing machines, household appliances, repair of village infrastructure, and cash handouts all coming from aid sent Moldova by donor nations since 2006, the AMN statement said.

There was no immediate response from Communist Party spokesmen.

Moldova's opposition parties have for years accused the ruling Communists of manipulating state-controlled services and material supplies, in order to prop up popularity.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, head of the Moldova's Communist Party, has denied the allegations, saying delivery of government goods and services are proof the Communists are managing the country properly.

Europe's poorest nation, Moldova was badly hit by drought and then floods in 2005 and 2006. (dpa)