TIRANA - Results of October 20 announced The Central Commission announces the results: PD has won 37 municipalities, while PS has won only 4 The battle for the remaining votes begins On Sunday, the contest for 22 municipalities and 90 communes The official winners and losers were announced yesterday. The battle will now continue for the country’s 22 municipalities and 90 communes. Vlora, Shkodra, and Korça are strongholds in the fierce contest TIRANA - The results of October 20 are announced. The Central Commission has tabulated all the figures from last Sunday’s vote. Meanwhile, the contest remains open for 22 of the country’s municipalities and 90 communes. The fiercest contest is expected over the fate of the municipalities in Vlora, Shkodër, Korçë, and Gjirokastër. The Democrats have won 37 municipalities, while the Socialists have emerged victorious in only four. Democratic commune heads have won in 180 communes, while the Socialists can savor victory in only 90 communes. PBDNJ candidates have come out on top in three communes, while a PDK candidate has been recorded as the winner in just one commune. With the results from the Central Commission, the first round of the local-government elections has thus concluded. The parties, voters, and elected representatives now know the strong points, the ground they have gained, and the nominal winners who will tomorrow lead Albania’s local administrative structure. On page 3

Mystery surrounds the bullet that shot the woman

Prosecution order at the hearing for the nine former officials Fier, the perpetrator is a relative

“Fayard”: “A serious lie” “Berisha paid for the works” TIRANA - France and Germany clash over Kadare. “Fayard”: “A serious lie” France and Germany clash over Kadare “Berisha paid for the works” TIRANA - France and Germany are clashing over Kadare. The two publishing giants—the renowned publishing house “Fayard” and the daily “Sueddeutsche Zeitung”—have come into conflict with each other because of the Albanian writer. The cause was an article published in the German newspaper—which referred to statements by two Albanian figures—according to which Berisha paid 1 million dollars for the publication of Kadare’s complete works. “Fayard” immediately reacted, categorically denying everything. Kadare himself declared: “I see that divisions have now become fashionable,” Kadare replied, expressing regret that the accusations once again come from Albania. On page 7 Ismail Kadare

[photo: Tirana Court] TIRANA - The trial for the murder of Ligeni has also concluded. The 12-year prison sentence for the accused, Masha, has nevertheless failed to solve the mystery of who shot the woman, who was in the car where the crime was committed. Judge Bendoka stated that there is no evidence to establish the truth. On page 5

Fier, the attacker a relative FIER - Just three days after being elected the first citizen of the municipality of Roskovec—a mayoral candidate put forward by the Democratic Party—he was wounded by one of his relatives. Enver Çepeli, 41, was shot with a revolver at a local bar and struck on the head with a chair, an assault that also put his life at risk. Eyewitnesses say the attacker was a relative who had asked the mayor for a position in the municipality’s new administration. When Çepeli refused, he responded with a sudden attack. The mayor was immediately admitted to Fier Hospital—with broken ribs and bruising on his face—and is now out of danger. Police have issued a wanted notice for his relative, although it is not yet known whether he is still serving a sentence. On page 5

[photo: Pali Miska at trial] Pali Miska at trial On page 5

The Balkan Children’s Song Festival begins for the first time On page 4

TIRANA - On Friday, the court opens a hearing for the adoption of four babies whom ill fortune has condemned to be orphans. “The court declares the child abandoned by his or her parents.” Such a ruling is added to the file of each little one living in the children’s home, after which there is no obstacle to their being adopted by Albanian or foreign parents. The family court section of the Tirana Court also declared four other toddlers, around one year old, abandoned. Three had been abandoned by their mothers at the maternity hospital, while one had been found seven days after birth in one of the gardens near Parliament. And, ironically, their survival is bound up with the fact that the children were found by various passers-by after the mothers who had given birth to them abandoned them. “Parliament” and “Hospital” are two of the surnames the little ones had been given; yesterday the court ruled that they were abandoned, a declaration without which no attempt can be made to adopt them. A few days earlier, the court had done the same for other children. One had been found by some Italians, “forgotten” in a café in the capital; another in a garden, and a third abandoned in a maternity ward bed just minutes after being born. Meanwhile, another child had met with a merciless fate. After being abandoned by both parents in Durrës, he was orphaned once again. Both parents had died within six months. “There are dozens of stories, much sadder than these. But in the end they all have the same substance: orphaned children, their lives, perhaps ...” [the remainder is unclear] (me.ki)

FROM THE WORLD US Congress: “Protectorate of Kosovo” Serbia threatened with continued sanctions if it fails to meet the conditions on Kosovo On page 2 [photo: Prishtina] Prishtina

An offer for the national team captain TIRANA - Bayern have proposed that Klinsmann stay at Bayern until the end of his career. Positive indications from Runneymeyer regarding a return by Klinsmann to the Bundesliga. Klinsmann has attracted interest from many clubs. Dortmund are very interested, though this has been both confirmed and denied. Barcelona have made an offer, but the club’s situation is among the richest in the world. They all cost at least 10 million dollars a year. Finally, the two big names as well, Hemot and Clemente. Alan Shearer will not play for a period of eight weeks. Knee pain forced him to end the English Premier League season. Beckham has been selected (left) … [the rest of the text is illegible] On page 3 Ziege

THREE SOLDIERS Desertion with release just around the corner They had only 20 days left to finish their military service TIRANA - They could not bear to spend another twenty days in military uniform and abandoned their unit. They will now answer to justice for the criminal offense of desertion. Three soldiers serving in a military unit in Tirana left their post three days ago, hoping to enjoy early release. But this was not a decision made by “the law on military service”; they had taken it themselves. Their freedom did not last long. The military police caught them and sent them to a cell. The two soldiers decided to make a … as a punishment for … [partly illegible] The three soldiers had spent a year and a half obeying their superiors’ orders and following military regulations, which had ultimately become “unbearable,” even though they had only 20 days left before completing their service for good. Perhaps there were dozens of others of the same age. The three, seeking their release, took to the streets of the cities in military uniforms of a “new style,” with fringes and colorful caps; this had frightened them into leaving their units an hour earlier. A decision made in haste, and the three soldiers, who came from a district in the north, had set off for home. But the military police caught them and took them back to their unit—and to a cell. They will now answer for desertion from the army. (me.ki)

On page 3

Feminine sounds in Tirana today

“Rruga” names the babies TIRANA - The court opens the day ...