speaking hardline separatists still controlling Dnestr, a sliver of land bordering Ukraine. Western countries see Moldova's shift in policy as helpful in tackling the impasse. Russian troops, which helped end a brief war between the two sides in 1992, remain in Dnestr. In Moscow, the State Duma lower house of parliament denounced what it said was pressure by authorities on Dnestr and passed a resolution recommending Russian penalties in response. --SP 2025 Local Time 1725 GMT
