Parties row over Albanian poll

Albania's political parties were in bitter disagreement over the form of general elections due to be held next month, to the exasperation of the international mediator, Franz Vranitzky, who left the country after two days of talks warning that international aid for Albania might dry up if an accord was not reached soon.

After trying unsuccessfully to steamroll one electoral law through parliament earlier in the week, President Sali Berisha's Democratic Party approved a more conciliatory second one last night. However, this text ignored the other parties' key demand to increase the number of seats decided by proportional representation.

President Berisha wants to hold the elections on 29 June, but that date is looking increasingly optimistic as the wrangling continues and the opposition threatens a mass boycott.