Bomb explodes in front of Albanian parliament

Tirana  - An explosive device went off in front of the Albanian parliament late Wednesday night, police said. Windows in nearby buildings were shattered by the blast, but no injuries were reported.

The device was apparently set in or underneath a parked car, police said, providing no other details. It was unclear whether the blast was connected to recent elections in the country.

Albania held parliamentary elections on June 28, but the results had not been formally announced even three weeks later, amid tensions and allegations of vote-rigging.

According to unofficial results, the vote left the conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha's bloc and the leftist opposition totally deadlocked.

The poll had been seen as a gauge of Albania's democratic progress and possibly unblocking its stalled bid for the European Union membership. (dpa)