Published: Friday September 11, 2009 MYT 5:22:00 PM

Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin resigns

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP): Moldova's acting President Vladimir Voronin resigned Friday, saying he had little hope that a new government elected in July would be able to resolve the problems of one of Europe's poorest nations.

Voronin sent a letter to Parliament formally announcing his resignation.

Voronin first indicated that he would step down Sept. 2, but didn't announce a date at the time.

Voronin's Communist Party was defeated July 29 by a pro-Western alliance. Moldova's new Parliament must try to elect a new president later this month - something it can't accomplish without a few Communist votes.

"I don't believe that (the successors) have the power to be a united team, to lead the state, thinking about your fundamental interests," Voronin said in a statement separate from his resignation letter. "On this current ground, all that can be built is despair, demoralization and a feeling of fatefulness. Nothing more."

Voronin has been president of Moldova since 2001. He's prohibited from serving another term, but remains Communist Party leader in the former Soviet Republic.

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