Romanian lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to impeach president Traian Basescu on grounds that he overstepped his authority by meddling in government business and legal affairs.

Romania’s government fell yesterday in a no-confidence vote, as opposition parties seized on widespread public anger over biting austerity measures and corruption.

Romanian police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters during an anti-government rally, the third consecutive day of demonstrations against austerity cuts and falling living standards.

EVERYONE curses the taxman, but Romanian witches angry about having to pay up for the first time yesterday were using cat excrement and dead dogs to cast spells on the president and government.

Everyone curses the taxman, but Romanian witches angry about having to pay up for the first time are planning to use cat excrement and dead dogs to cast spells on the president and government today.

Proposed changes in retirement ages triggered protests by thousands of workers in Bulgaria and Macedonia today, and a political stand-off in Romania about whether men and women should retire at the same age.

THE Romanian government was in an uproar yesterday over austerity protests – the interior minister resigned, the opposition demanded the prime minister go as well and top police officials held emergency talks with the president.

The Romanian government was thrown into turmoil today over public strikes against cuts, with the interior minister resigning, the opposition demanding the prime minister go too and top police officials holding emergency talks with the president.

Romania’s Constitutional Court today ordered a re-examination of ballots declared void in Sunday’s presidential election amid allegations of “massive fraud”.

ROMANIAN President Traian Basescu narrowly won re-election, final results showed, but the leftist opposition said it had proof of fraud and would contest the tally.

A Romanian opposition party today challenged the results of presidential elections, saying they were fraudulent.

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Theodor Stolojan said today he would renounce the premiership in favour of a younger candidate.

Romanian President Traian Basescu, suspended by parliament for alleged abuse of power, survived a referendum on his impeachment today with at least 75% of voters rejecting his dismissal, exit polls showed.

Romanians are voting in a referendum today on whether to remove President Traian Basescu from office, after parliament accused him of abusing his powers.

Romania’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill which makes it easier to impeach the country’s president if he is found to have violated the constitution.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates inaugurated a technical support centre in Bucharest today, saying he was confident that Romania’s recent accession to the European Union would boost foreign investment and the country’s IT industry.

The blue-and-gold EU flag fluttered across Bucharest and strobe lights flashed through the sky today as Romania prepared to celebrate the country's induction into the European Union.

Romanian president Traian Basescu was to visit a warehouse today where millions of files of the former Communist secret police, the Securitate, were being held following their handover to a national archive.

France will gradually open its labour market to Romanian and Bulgarian workers, who will be able to take jobs in sectors such as construction, agriculture and hotels, European affairs minister Catherine Colonna said today.

Three journalists who returned to Romania after nearly two months in captivity in Iraq will be allowed home today after spending three days in quarantine, the president’s office said.

Landing on Romanian soil after nearly two months in captivity in Iraq, journalist Marie Jeanne Ion tugged off her yellow headscarf today and ran across the tarmac into her younger sister’s arms.

Three Romanian journalists and their Iraqi-American guide were freed today after nearly two months held hostage in Iraq, the president’s office said.

Three Romanian journalists have gone missing in Iraq and authorities believe they may have been kidnapped, officials said today.

Romania’s new prime minister vowed to bring press freedoms, an independent justice system and a working market economy today as his centrist government was sworn in.

ROMANIAN Prime Minister Adrian Nastase yesterday said he had conceded defeat in Romania’s presidential run-off in a telephone call to opponent Traian Basescu, whom he called “the future president of Romania.”

Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu claimed victory today in Romania’s presidential run-off, pledging to fight corruption and prepare Romania to join the European Union by 2007.

Prime Minister Adrian Nastase today said he had conceded defeat in Romania’s presidential run-off in a telephone call to opponent Traian Basescu, whom he called “the future president of Romania”.

Mayor Traian Basescu was ahead in the Romanian presidential run-off, according to official partial results released today.

Romania’s Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu both claimed victory in the presidential election after exit polls showed them in a dead heat.

Romania looks headed for a period of political uncertainty after final election results today showed the ruling Social Democratic Party leading, but unable to form a majority government, even if it forms a power-sharing coalition with ethnic Hungarians.

Romania’s opposition leader called for the results of the weekend parliamentary and presidential elections to be annulled today and for a rerun to be held, claiming fraud.

Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and his left-wing party face a tough challenge from the centrist opposition in today’s presidential and parliamentary elections.