Albanian opposition stages hunger strike, demands vote recount

Tirana - Around 200 opposition Socialist lawmakers and supporters began a hunger strike in the Albanian capital Tirana on Saturday, demanding the government allow a partial recount of the votes in areas where alleged vote rigging occurred.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha's conservatives won a narrow majority of 75 seats in a 140 seat parliament in last year's June elections. But the opposition says the elections were illegal and are boycotting parliament.

Tens of thousands of people protested in Tirana on Friday. Led by the city's mayor Edi Rama, they demanded a recount of the votes.

On Saturday, 22 Socialists lawmakers and 180 supporters began a hunger strike, supported by thousands of protesters including over a hundred coal miners.

Hundreds of police vehicles could be seen along Tirana's main boulevard, separating protesters from government supporters who gathered for a May Day concert, local media reported.

Edi Rama said that the protest could go on indefinitely, while the government said the opposition's demand was illegal.

The political deadlock means the country's hopes of European Union membership are seriously hampered.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/321540,albanian-opposition-stages-hunger-strike-demands-vote-recount.html.