TIRANA - With opposition politicians now agreed in principle to take part in the elections set for June 29th, an uneasy peace reigned throughout most of Albania yesterday, Seamus Martin reports. A number of clashes, however, including one which cost the lives of five police officers, were reported in the provinces.
The country's president, Mr Sali Berisha, in an interview with The Irish Times earlier this week, said he would use force to "dominate" southern rebels, particularly those in the port city of Vlore where anti Berisha forces took control in March. An armoured column was reported to be moving towards the southern town of Tepelene yesterday.
The Socialist Party, heirs to the Communist Party of the former dictator, Enver Hoxha, voted on Thursday to take part in the forthcoming elections but later appeared to back away from that decision. After further reassurances from the OSCE's representative, Mr Franz Vranitzky, on monitoring the poll they finally agreed to take part.