Moldova socialists lead vote counting

Voting in parliamentary elections in ex-Soviet Moldova is now over and early results have the country's pro-Moscow party in the lead.

Officials say the Socialist Party - which wants to end the country's integration policies with Europe- is the frontrunner, the communist party is in a close second and three pro-European parties are trailing behind.

Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon.

(SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) IGOR DODON, LEADER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY SAYING:

"You have voted for the Socialists Party. But in fact, you have also voted for the other way, for the alternative. You have voted for the prosperous Moldova together with the strong Russia. You have voted for the Moldova in the Customs Union (with Russia). I want to promise you that we remember all obligations we have towards our voters, and we will not disappoint you."

The current government has been pursuing a Europe friendly path for the past five years.

But Sunday's results reveal the deep-seated