Council of Europe mediates in Albania crisis

Associated Press

A Council of Europe delegation is meeting with Albania's top political groups in an effort to resolve a drawn-out political crisis over alleged electoral fraud in last June's polls.

The main opposition Socialist Party has been boycotting parliament demanding a vote recount, which Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party has ruled out.

The office of President Bamir Topi says that during the two-day visit the delegation will try to help the president resolve the political deadlock.

The Democrats control 75 of parliament's 140 seats; the Socialists have 65. Important laws, such as on EU membership, require a three-fifths majority, or 84 votes, to pass.