Albanian parliament to meet after troubled elections

Albanian parliament to meet after troubled elections Tirana, Albania - The new Albanian parliament is finally set to hold its constitutive session on September 7, more than two months since contested elections took place.

President Bamir Topi called the parliament to meet days after the main opposition force, Tirana Mayor Bamir Topi's Socialist Party, refused to recognize the marred elections and hinted at a boycott.

The bloc led by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's conservative Democratic Party claimed a tight victory in the June elections, which were marred by allegations of vote-rigging and abuse.

At its congress Saturday, the Socialist Party rejected the outcome of the elections, formally announced on August 1, but because of internal wrangling did not decide on a possible boycott of the parliament.

Topi is expected to designate Berisha as the next premier shortly after the parliament session opens.

Albania, once an isolated bastion of hardline Communism and today still one of Europe's poorest countries, joined NATO this year. The June poll, criticized by Western organizations, was a crucial gauge of its maturity for closer ties with the European Union. (dpa)