Chisinau Council meeting blocked by disgruntled citizens

The meeting of the Chisinau City Council (CMC) today has been disrupted by citizens disgruntled by the current situation in the administration of the municipality. Whereas some of them, notably war veterans, declare they will not leave the sitting hall until the Communists and their allies give up intentions to seize power in the Council, others are crying out slogans slashing what was once the majority coalition, Info-Prim Neo The meeting commenced with a dispute for the right to take the central seat in the presidium. It was claimed both by formal CMC chairman Mihai Ghimpu, who was dismissed from office on June 6 with the vote of 27 councilors, and Communist Alexandru Roman, elected by the same councilors to preside over the meeting of June 6. The dispute devolved into noisy altercations. Mihai Ghimpu challenged his dismissal, citing breaches in the voting procedure. Adding fuel to the fire were a bunch of angry citizens who entered the sitting hall and blocked the access to the microphones. A Nistru war veteran, Valeriu Ciobanu, declared his people would not leave the place until the Communists gave up intentions to seize authority in the CMC. Councilor Valeri Klimenko of Ravnopravie suggested the Communists and their recent allies, including Ravnopravie, the Christian-Democrats and the Social-Democrats, should retire to another room to resume the meeting. At the hour of publishing, the City Council was still a bedlam. So far, Mihai Ghimpu, endorsed by the former municipal coalition, has twice failed to convene the councilors. Today's meeting was convoked by Social Democrat leader Eduard Musuc, who was elected as CMC chairman on June 6