OSCE to send hundreds of election monitors to Albania due to concerns over political tensions


BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS APRIL 5, 2013 5:04 AM

 

TIRANA, Albania - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says it will send hundreds of monitors to observe June's national elections in Albania, where political tensions are running high.

An OSCE report says an initial mission has heard concerns that longstanding conflicts among Albania's fractious political parties could affect the election.

Previous elections in Albania have been marred by violence, accusations of vote-rigging and intimidation.

The mission will include 30 long-term and 400 short-term observers, the OSCE said Friday. It will be the 11th Albanian election monitored by an on-the-spot OSCE mission.

On June 23, some 3.3 million registered voters will elect 140 legislators for a four-year term. The two main parties are Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party and the Socialist Party of Edi Rama