Tuesday, November 1, 2011


Albania: Prosecutors seek life in jail for blast

Associated Press
2011-11-01









Albania prosecutors are asking a court to sentence a former top Defense Ministry official and two other people to a life in prison for their alleged role in a deadly blasts at an ammunition disposal factory three years ago.

The prosecutors on Tuesday also asked for prison terms of one to 23 years for 25 other defendants that include the former army chief of staff.

All those charged in the 2008 blast that killed 26 people have denied responsibility. They are expected to address the court on Tuesday before a panel of judges, who are likely to deliver their verdict by the end of this year.

Albanian, a former communist country, has pledged to dispose of all excess arms and ammunition by 2014, with U.S. and NATO help. The country joined NATO in 2009.

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