Chisinau police keep opponents from obstructing unionists' march
Chisinau. Sept 16 (Interfax) - A march of unionists, advocates of Moldova's unification with Romania, has ended in Chisinau and it has passed off without incident.
About a thousand people joined the march, held in the capital city's park zone, the Moldovan Police told Interfax.
The unionists marched, singing Romanian patriotic songs. They starting leaving the venue after they reached Green Theater.
Police blocked all side streets to prevent opponents from breaking the march up.
The Patriots of Moldova Party leader, Mihai Garbuz, and some of his suppoprters carrying red banners attempted to break through to the marchers, shouting "Shame!" but they were stopped by police.
Garbuz complained to reporters that his civil rights had been violated.
Another group of several dozen opponents, led by Social-Democratic Party leader Victor Shelin gathered on Great National Assembly Square in central Chisinau and they chanted "Moldova!", "Down with Unionists!" They were carrying Moldova's national flags. But finally the opponents made up their minds not to hold a rally, authorized by the city mayor, and not to march in the opposite direction from the unionists.
The mayor's office had earlier put off a festival of ethnic minorities from Saturday to Sunday to prevent clashes with participants in the March of Unification.
It also made the marchers choose a route bypassing the center.
Other actions set for Sunday were canceled, including an action planned by the Patriots of Moldova Party which said it would obstruct the unionists' march.