Gorbachev Calls Off Moldova Visit; Tensions Cited

President Mikhail S. Gorbachev postponed today’s scheduled visit to the southern republic of Moldova, his first domestic trip in three months, because of tensions in the republic, Tass news agency reported.

The Moldovan Parliament issued a statement after the cancellation was announced, linking the postponement to “actions by separatists,” Tass said.

It said a new date for a presidential visit to the strife-torn republic will be announced later.

Gorbachev, who faces growing economic problems, food shortages, ethnic unrest and independence drives by most of the 15 Soviet republics, also announced this week that he had to postpone a December trip to Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize.

The Nobel committee said the award ceremonies will be held as scheduled Dec. 9-11.

Tass said Gorbachev had been scheduled to speak to the Moldovan Parliament today about the social and political situation in the Soviet Union. It said he was also to have met with intellectuals in the republic’s capital, Kishinev.

Interfax, an independent news agency, said Moldovan President Mircha Snegur told legislators that separatist-minded deputies from the Dniester region in the east refused to attend the session, prompting Gorbachev to cancel.