Protesters in Moldova Establish National Salvation Council, Block Traffic

Supporters of Moldova's left-wing and center-right opposition parties adopted a resolution on Sunday announcing a council of national salvation to carry out protesters' demands for government reforms as northbound entrance and exit traffic in Chisinau was blocked.

CHISINA (Sputnik) – An estimated 10,000 to 100,000 anti-government protesters are voicing their opposition to the newly appointed Moldovan leadership on the streets of Chisinau.

Vasily Nastase, one of the leaders of the Dignity and Truth (DA) civil platform read out a set of demands, including dissolving the national legislature, setting early elections no later than April and establishing legal procedures to elect the next president by direct popular vote.

"For these demands to be executed, the Council of National Salvation is being created to include representatives among protesters and the political opposition," Nastase said.

Moldova finds itself in an unprecedented situation no longer ruled by law, Nastase stressed.

"Therefore the only option is a complete replacement of the entire political class, holding early elections on a democratic and equal basis monitored by the United Nations and other international institutions," he said, calling for the seizure of state institutions.

A group of protesters was later seen marching toward the national anti-corruption center.

Our Party leader Renato Usaty later announced a one-hour blockade of the main highway leading to and from northern Chisinau.

Clashes erupted shortly after Democratic Party candidate Pavel Filip was appointed prime minister on Wednesday and a new government was approved.

Protesters stormed the parliament building and at least 31 people, 27 of them police officers, were injured.