Albania MP Apologizes For Assaulting Colleague

At his trial on Monday in the Albanian Supreme Court, Socialist MP Arben Ndoka apologized for having attacked a fellow MP, maintaining that such actions have occurred in other parliaments.

"I want to apologize to the public although such incidents have happened in parliaments all over Europe and in the Albanian parliament in the past," Ndoka told reporters outside the court.

Together with another Socialist MP, Pierin Ndreu, he is accused of having physically attacked an opposition deputy, Gent Strazimiri, during a session of parliament last July following an altercation.

Both Ndreu and Ndoka are being tried before the Supreme Court, accused of assaulting a public official.

The attack prompted the opposition Democratic Party to launch a six-month boycott of parliament, accusing the ruling majority under Socialist Party leader Edi Rama of having MPs with a criminal background in its ranks.

According to documents published by the Democratic Party, Ndoka was previously convicted in Romeand sentenced to seven years in prison after which he was sent back to Albania in May 2002 to serve his sentence closer to home.

A court in his hometown of Lezha upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence to four years and six months. Ndoka was freed on August 19, 2005, after his sentence was reduced again for good behaviour.

Ndoka has admitted being convicted in Italy but maintains his innocence, saying that he was unfairly treated by the Italian justice system when he was a poor young emigrant.