Deadly shootout mars crucial Albania vote

An opposition activist was killed in an apparently politically motivated shooting in Albania today during a crucial general election that could determine whether one of Europe's poorest countries has a chance of joining the EU.
The victim was a 53-year-old activist with the Socialist-led coalition of former Tirana mayor Edi Rama. At the same time a rival candidate for parliament from the ruling Democratic party of conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha was wounded along with two others.
A police spokeswoman said the shootout in the northern town of Lac "might be related to the vote," but did not want to elaborate pending the outcome of the investigation.

Rama -- whose coalition has a slight edge in the race according to analysts -- branded the shooting a "serious political incident... Aimed at intimidating the voters."
"Berisha should take responsibility... And pay for it," Rama, 48, told reporters after rushing to Lac.
Both sides have been accusing each other of vote-buying and electoral roll irregularities, raising concerns there could be a repeat of the 2009 polls which triggered months of political turmoil and government paralysis.

Around 6,000 police were on duty today to try to keep the peace.
Officials said the turnout was 35.77 percent about four hours before the polling stations close at 1700 GMT.

In Tirana, people were queueing to cast their ballots even before polling stations opened.
"In Albania, everyone is so obsessed with politics, they think of it even when they make love," said 30-year-old engineer Arsen Prifit.
Berisha, seeking his third mandate to lead the Muslim majority nation after eight years in power, has vowed that "the will of the citizens shall be respected".
Having failed to deliver clean elections since the fall of communism two decades ago, Albania desperately needs to prove that it is able to hold fair polls that meet international standards if it is to have a shot at joining the European bloc.

Since the collapse of Enver Hoxha's communist regime in 1990, elections in Albania have been marred by violence and allegations of vote-fixing.
Brussels, which has twice rejected Tirana's EU membership application, said the election "represents a crucial test for the country's democratic institutions and its progress towards the European Union".