Romania

Presidential runoff race in virtual tie

Both candidates claimed victory in the Romanian presidential runoff vote Sunday, and exit polls showed Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Adrian Nastase in a virtual tie.

Official results were expected Wednesday.

Nastase, 54, of the governing Social Democracy Party, expressing confidence in his victory, said: “I will be a strong president.”

Hundreds of Basescu supporters gathered after the vote in University Square in downtown Bucharest, dancing and singing his name.

Moscow

Disparate Russians join to oppose Putin reforms

Hundreds of Kremlin critics gathered Sunday on Constitution Day to denounce what they call a retreat from democracy as President Vladimir Putin signed a bill scrapping gubernatorial elections.

Putin on Sunday also denied he seeks to change the constitution, a concern raised by critics who fear his administration might seek amendments to keep him in power past 2008. The constitution allows only two consecutive four-year terms.

The new law signed by Putin gives the president the right to appoint governors and dissolve regional legislatures if they refuse to confirm his nominees. Russia consists of 89 regions, whose leaders are currently chosen by popular election.

At Sunday’s meeting, an unusual alliance of liberals and communists joined in urging broad public opposition to that bill and other Kremlin-sponsored political reforms that critics say will strengthen Putin’s grip on the country at the expense of democracy.

Philippines

Homemade bomb kills at least 15 at market

A bomb exploded Sunday in a market packed with Christmas shoppers, killing at least 15 people and shattering a monthslong lull in terror attacks in the volatile southern Philippines, where Muslim and communist rebels are active.

The homemade bomb, concealed in a box, went off in the meat section of the market in General Santos, about 620 miles south of Manila. Officials immediately bolstered security in the predominantly Christian port city of 500,000 people.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said there was no way to justify “this heinous deed.”

No one claimed responsibility, and it was not clear whether terrorist groups were involved. Muslim and communist rebels both operate in areas around General Santos.