Albanian leaders invited for EU talks, hunger strike ends

Members of Albania's opposition demanding a recount nearly a year after a parliamentary election ended a 19-day hunger strike on Wednesday after pressure from the European Union.

Thursday, 20 May 2010 12:59

Members of Albania's opposition demanding a recount nearly a year after a parliamentary election ended a 19-day hunger strike on Wednesday after pressure from the European Union.

Some of the hunger-strikers, who had been taking only water, were taken to hospital at the end of the strike.

Camped out in white tents outside Prime Minister Sali Berisha's office, 22 lawmakers and 200 backers of the opposition Socialist Party had started the hunger strike to demand a recount of the June, 2009 election, which gave Berisha's party only half the seats in parliament.

The Socialists, who have nearly half the seats in parliament, have alleged widespread fraud and boycotted parliament since September except for brief periods from March.

The heads of the European conservative and leftist parties in the European Parliament have invited Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama to a dinner in Strasbourg, which will be attended by the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.

"The participants at the dinner will discuss extensively the ways and means to end the political deadlock in Albania," Berisha's office said.

Some Albanian commentators said Berisha and Rama would be given a take it or leave it choice on a draft compromise.

Reuters