Albania raises cash to destroy old ammunition

Albania's Defense Ministry says it has been promised $10 million ((EURO)7.4 million) from the United States as part of donations from NATO countries to destroy its massive Communist-era ammunition stockpiles by 2013.

The donation will help fund a (EURO)35.5 million ($47.6 million) project to dispose of about 90,000 tons of excess ammunition that are stored in old army depots and are seen as posing a risk to public safety.

A huge blast in 2008 at a munitions disposal factory near the capital, Tirana, killed 26 people and injured 300.Formerly communist Albania joined NATO last year.