An election for a new mayor in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, has been declared invalid because of a low voter turn-out.

Election officials said only thirty-two percent of voters took part.

Romanian election rules require a turn-out of more than half of the electorate.

Correspondents say the result reflects public disillusionment with politics and the lacklustre campaign fought by the twenty-two candidates.

A new election next Sunday will be decided by a majority vote, regardless of the turnout.

The post of mayor became vacant, when Victor Ciorbea, who won the last election in June 1996, resigned.

While Mr Ciorbea was prime minister, he retained the title but handed its functions over to a Christian Democrat caretaker, Viorel Lis, who is one of the twenty-two candidates.