Albania risked another election fiasco on Sunday, with Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano refusing to concede what the country's election commission said was a clear victory for rival Sali Berisha. Last week's vote was seen as an opportunity for formerly communist Albania to prove it now has the political maturity needed to join the European Union and NATO. A disputed election that ends up in the courts would seriously harm its chances. All five of the previous elections since the collapse of communism in 1990 have been marred by violence and intimidation and while there has been no violence around the July 3 vote, it does not appear there will be a gracious transfer of power. "I will accept any result showing defeat or victory for the Socialists only when it is certified by the electoral courts and the central election commission," Nano said, adding his government was still in charge. "Until the certification ... the constitution requires every minister to continue working until a successor is legitimised." The election commission issued preliminary official results on Sunday based on 97 of 100 constituencies. The Socialist Party said it would file complaints with the electoral commission about 30 constituencies. --More 2359 Local Time 2059 GMT
