Tirana  - Albanian President Bamir Topi on Wednesday designated Sali Berisha as the country's next prime minister.

Topi also called on Berisha to form the new government. Media reports said the new government would be presented early next week.

A block led by Berisha's conservative Democratic Party claimed narrow victory in June 28 polls and Berisha struck a deal last week with the former opposition leader Ilir Meta to form the majority.

The opposition Socialist Party rejected the outcome of the election and has been boycotting parliament's constitutive session since it started on Monday night.

Albania, once an isolated bastion of hardline Communism and one of Europe's poorest countries, joined NATO this year.(dpa)