Sunday, November 30, 2008

Albanian foreign minister charged

TIRANA, Albania-The Albanian prosecutor general's office says it filed charges against Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha after an investigation of corruption in a highway construction deal.

Spokeswoman Holta Zhiti has declined to say what the exact charges are. She says they were sent to Basha by mail.

Basha's lawyer Zef Nikaj says he is unaware of the charges as they have not yet arrived.
Investigators had been looking into allegations that Basha improperly favored a U.S.-Turkish company when awarding a $542 million highway contract in 2006 while he was transport minister.

Basha was stripped of immunity last year. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Once completed in 2009 the highway will link Albania's north with neighboring Kosovo.

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