Moldova's acting president and parliamentary speaker on Tuesday condemned a group of Orthodox Christians for removing a menorah during a celebration of the Jewish Hanukkah festival in the capital.

Some 100 people led by an Orthodox priest uprooted the candelabrum placed in Chisinau's central square on Sunday, saying Moldova is an Orthodox country and the city center is no place for a menorah.

"Moldovan citizens are free to choose their religion," Mihai Ghimpu said opening a parliamentary session.

Ghimpu demanded a thorough police probe into the incident.

The ex-Soviet state's Jewish community said they will not sue the priest, but demanded the government and the Orthodox Church respond to the xenophobic act. The Orthodox Church counts some 70% of Moldovans as its members.

The priest and demonstrators dumped a heavy cast-iron menorah behind a statue of Moldovan national hero King Stefan the Great. The protest lasted about an hour.

Orthodox Church officials described the incident as a "sad event," Moldovan media reported earlier.

The holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C. after its desecration by the Syrians. It is observed by lighting a special nine-branched menorah.

CHISINAU, December 15 (RIA Novosti)