Moldova's Acting President Vladimir Voronin Resigns

"I'm telling you honestly, I hand over the top position into the hands of the new power with a heavy heart," Voronin said in a statement.

"I don't believe in the ability of politicians, who have built their alliance only on negativism and criticism of their own country in order to allot top positions, to propose a positive programme," Voronin said, adding that he and his team will become the leftist opposition.

Voronin, who is Communist Party leader, is barred by the constitution from seeking a third four-year term of office after occupying the top position since 2001. Communists control 48 of the 101 seats in parliament after the July 29 snap elections.

The four pro-West opposition parties, which entered the chamber, together control 53 seats. The Liberal Party, PL, the Democratic Party, PDM, the Liberal Democratic Party, PLDM, and Our Moldova" Alliance, AMN, created a government coalition in August. The four parties have enough votes to form a government of their own but are short of the 61-seat majority needed to elect the new head of state who will nominate the prime minister.

Under the Moldovan constitution, the speaker of parliament assumes the functions of president when the head of state resigns. The pro-West coalition in the Moldovan parliament elected PL's leader Mihai Ghimpu as parliament speaker on Augut 28.