Albanian president calls talks on political crisis

Albania's president has summoned the government and main opposition parties to talks on alleged electoral fraud, in a bid to end a seven-month political crisis.
Bamir Topi said in a statement Thursday he would hold preliminary meetings with party leaders "to prepare the terms of round-table negotiations."

Political parties had no immediate response. The main opposition Socialists have boycotted Parliament for months _ blocking most legislative work _ and staged large protests.

They claim Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats manipulated vote counting in the June 28 national elections and demand a recount _ which the government has ruled out.

The Democrats control 75 of parliament's 140 seats; the Socialists 65.

Source:etaiwannews.com/