Moldovan election officials say the mayoral poll in the capital Chisinau will go to a run-off after no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in initial election on June 5.
The Central Electoral Commission says communist candidate Igor Dodon leads with just over 48 percent of the votes, while incumbent Dorin Chirtoaca has 46.5 percent.
Pro-European Chirtoaca has been mayor since 2007 in the city of one million.
The run-off will take place June 19.
The ballot on June 6 was seen as a test for the three-party governing pro-European alliance that came to power in November.
Overall, the alliance won around 57 percent of the vote in local councils, while the communists took almost 33 percent of the vote -- more than any other single party.
Explosion Kills Tennis Official
Meanwhile, also in Chisinau, a car has exploded in the center of the city, killing one man.
The victim, Igor Turcan, was the chairman of Moldova's tennis federation.
Police spokesman Adrian Jovmir said a car with Russian registration plates exploded on June 7 as Turcan walked out of the tennis federation headquarters, badly injuring him.
Police said no one else was injured.
Turcan had also been the campaign chief for Mihai Godea, an independent candidate in the mayoral election.
There was no word on the possible cause of the blast.
compiled from agency reports
The Central Electoral Commission says communist candidate Igor Dodon leads with just over 48 percent of the votes, while incumbent Dorin Chirtoaca has 46.5 percent.
Pro-European Chirtoaca has been mayor since 2007 in the city of one million.
The run-off will take place June 19.
The ballot on June 6 was seen as a test for the three-party governing pro-European alliance that came to power in November.
Overall, the alliance won around 57 percent of the vote in local councils, while the communists took almost 33 percent of the vote -- more than any other single party.
Explosion Kills Tennis Official
Meanwhile, also in Chisinau, a car has exploded in the center of the city, killing one man.
The victim, Igor Turcan, was the chairman of Moldova's tennis federation.
Police spokesman Adrian Jovmir said a car with Russian registration plates exploded on June 7 as Turcan walked out of the tennis federation headquarters, badly injuring him.
Police said no one else was injured.
Turcan had also been the campaign chief for Mihai Godea, an independent candidate in the mayoral election.
There was no word on the possible cause of the blast.
compiled from agency reports
