In Albania

The leader of the Albanian opposition, Sali Berisha, has been released from house arrest, an Albanian court ruled today, while the country’s former president and former prime minister awaits trial on corruption charges against him as protests agai

An Albanian court has released from house arrest former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is charged with corruption.

The Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior officials and politicians, revoked its order for Berisha's house arrest issued almost a year ago, without giving any reason.

Albanian opposition lawmakers and their supporters blocked the capital's main streets for hours Tuesday accusing the government of corruption and demanding it be replaced by a technocratic caretaker Cabinet until 2025 parliamentary elections.

The Albanian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a gathering of hundreds of opposition supporters who had blocked roads in Tirana, accusing the government of corruption.

New Democracy MEP Fredi Beleri has been pelted with yogurt and eggs by unknown assailants outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana.

Beleri, an ethnic Greek born in Albania, was in the Albanian capital as part of a delegation from the European Parliament to assess Albania's progress towards European Union membership.

After 16 months in an Albanian prison, Fredi Beleri has been granted early release. His request, which had been postponed three times, was approved on Monday.

After 16 months in an Albanian prison, Fredi Beleri's request for early release will be heard on Monday.

This request comes after a third postponement, with reports from Greece indicating optimism about the outcome.

Governing Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo was leading in Sunday's repeat mayoral election in Himare, a town in southwestern Albania, with 63 percent of the vote counted from 28 out of 36 polling stations.

A new election for mayor of the predominantly ethnic Greek city of Himare in southern Albania will take place on August 4, without the previously elected mayor, Fredi Beleri, being able to help his chosen successor, Petro Gjikuria.

Opposition protesters pelted Albania's government building and a mayor's office with petrol bombs late on Thursday, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and demanding his resignation.

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in front of Rama's office and later at the office of Tirana's mayor who is also from Rama's Socialist Party.