[ALBSA-Info] US calls on Albanian parties to accept vote result

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

US calls on Albanian parties to accept vote result

  
TIRANA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United States ambassador to Tirana said 
Albania's municipal polls were free and fair and called on all parties to 
accept the result. 

``We call on all parties to continue the cooperation demonstrated in hundreds 
of local commissions throughout the country and accept the ballot results,'' 
Joseph Limprecht said in a statement late on Wednesday. 

Official results are expected on Thursday. 

Limprecht said the peaceful electoral process was another positive signal 
that the impoverished Balkan nation was committed to accelerating democratic 
development, integration in Europe and ties with the United States. 

Opposition Democratic Party Chairman and former President Sali Berisha said 
on Tuesday the election was ``grossly manipulated.'' 

But Berisha stopped short of saying his party would not accept the results 
and has convened the party's national council on Thursday to discuss further 
action. 

The ruling Socialist Party has claimed victory in the local polls -- the 
first big political test since Albania emerged from the anarchy of 1997 and 
which are seen as a dry run for next year's general election.