TIRANA - Western governments added their voices yesterday to growing disquiet over the conduct of Albania's third general election and advised the conservative government of President Sali Berisha to avoid further violence.
Opposition parties, which withdrew from the weekend election, prepared yesterday for rallies across the ex communist state, despite government warnings that demonstrations could be put down by force.
Leaders of the main Socialist Party of reformed communists and of other parties in the opposition bloc were attacked and beaten by riot police on Tuesday at their first rally in Tirana's Skanderbeg Square to protest against the elections, which they claim were rigged by the ruling Democratic Party.
Tuesday's violence and reports by western observers casting doubt on the fairness of the vote raised concern in Washington and several European capitals, which urged restraint from President Berisha, his rival Socialists and all opposition parties.
No official election results for the first round have yet been published but the Democrats claimed victory almost as soon as polls closed on Sunday.