The European security body, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, on Saturday urged Albania's political parties to recognise the results of legislative elections, whoever wins when the second round takes place on Sunday.
"It is in the interest of the stability of Albania that all the political parties accept the results of the elections, which are recognised by the international community," an OSCE statement published in Tirana said.
The ruling Socialist Party won the first round of elections on June 24, and is tipped to win the second on Sunday. However, opposition leader and former president Sali Berisha claimed victory after the first poll and has called on voters to go to the polls in large numbers to "crown his victory".
Since 1991, when Europe's most authoritarian and autocratic communist regime fell, the results of municipal and legislative elections have always been contested by the losing party there, often leading to violent flare ups -- TIRANA (AFP)
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