In Albania, Prime Minister Sali Berisha's ruling Democratic Party has taken the lead in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Preliminary results indicate the prime minister's party will win a few seats more than the Socialist Party. Opinion polls during the election also suggested a victory for the Democratic Party.

The elections, which passed off peacefully, were seen as an important test for Albania, which joined NATO three months ago and wants to join the EU as well. Seven elections have been held since the fall of the Stalinists regime in 1991, all of them overshadowed by violence. Mr Berisha says the elections were free and fair, but the Socialist Party claims there were irregularities.