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Albanians vote in tight election Albanians await close poll result
(about 15 hours later)
Polls have closed in Albania after a tightly fought election that is being watched closely by EU observers. Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha has taken a clear lead in exit polls for Albania's general election, as the official count continues.
Albanians voted in a general election that was seen as a test of the nation's democratic credentials. But both Mr Berisha and his main opponent, Edi Rama, urged people to wait for the official result, expected on Monday afternoon.
Polls predicted a tight race between PM Sali Berisha and his Socialist rival, Edi Rama, who both promise to boost the economy and bring Albania into the EU. Election observers are also due to give their assessment of the polls later. Witnesses said voting seemed orderly.
Hundreds of international observers are monitoring the vote to avoid any repeat of problems seen in earlier polls. Sunday's vote is being seen as a test of the nation's democratic credentials.
Albania joined Nato earlier this year and has filed for EU membership.
As exit polls showed him in the lead, Mr Berisha said: "I call on Albanians to follow the results [of the ballot count] with maturity, without evoking ideas of those triumphing or those losing."
ELECTION FACTS Four coalitions contesting voteProportional representation systemParliament has 140 seatsFour year mandate Corruption key to Albania poll
Even so, hundreds of Berisha supporters took to the streets, honking car horns in celebration.
Mr Rama, the Socialist mayor of the capital, Tirana, also warned that "the real result is still in the ballot boxes, patience is needed."
And his party said it intended to complain about election irregularities.
"We have seen cases of intimidation of voters by the people from the Democratic party and problems with voter registers," a party official said.
Hundreds of international observers monitored the vote to avoid any repeat of problems seen in previous polls, which have been marred by violence.
A spokesman for the OSCE, Europe's human rights and security watchdog, said during the day that polling had apparently gone well.A spokesman for the OSCE, Europe's human rights and security watchdog, said during the day that polling had apparently gone well.
"So far it has been relative calm," said Robert Bosch, head of the OSCE's Albanian office."So far it has been relative calm," said Robert Bosch, head of the OSCE's Albanian office.
"There are some irregularities but this time less than in past elections.""There are some irregularities but this time less than in past elections."
Polls are due to close at 1700 GMT. Economic concerns
Economy concerns Brussels has called for a free and fair poll if Albania is to move further towards EU integration. Both main candidates have promised to bring Albania into the EU.
There were reports that a member of staff at a polling station had been threatened with a firearm, and some people said their names had not appeared on registration lists at their allocated place of voting. A range of issues have been raised during the campaign but surveys show that the economy is uppermost in voters' concerns, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Tirana says.
ELECTION FACTS Four coalitions contesting voteProportional representation systemParliament has 140 seatsFour year mandate Corruption key to Albania poll
But the election appeared to be passing off relatively peacefully, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Tirana says.
Brussels has called for a free and fair poll if Albania is to move further towards EU integration.
A range of issues have been raised during the campaign but surveys show that the economy is uppermost in voters' concerns, our correspondent says.
After more than 45 years of isolation under Communist rule, the country's economy has slowly rebuilt itself.After more than 45 years of isolation under Communist rule, the country's economy has slowly rebuilt itself.
Albania has not been as hard-hit by the global recession as many European countries but is still expecting a sharp drop in annual growth, our correspondent adds.Albania has not been as hard-hit by the global recession as many European countries but is still expecting a sharp drop in annual growth, our correspondent adds.