Ilir Meta, SIM leader and former Prime Minister, accepts the invitation from Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha to join him in forming a coalition government, in Tirana July 4, 2009. Albania's ruling Democratic Party and the small Socialist Integration Movement (SIM) will start negotiations on forming a coalition government, Meta said on Saturday. With less than one percent of the votes in Sunday's parliamentary elections yet to be counted, the Democratic Party has won 70 seats in the 140-member parliament while the SIM has four. Reuters Pictures 5 months ago

Ilir Meta, SIM leader and former Prime Minister, accepts the invitation from Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha to join him in forming a coalition government, in Tirana July 4, 2009. Albania's ruling Democratic Party and the small Socialist Integration Movement (SIM) will start negotiations on forming a coalition government, Meta said on Saturday. With less than one percent of the votes in Sunday's parliamentary elections yet to be counted, the Democratic Party has won 70 seats in the 140-member parliament while the SIM has four.

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  1. Albania's opposition supporters are seen during a marathon protest in front of Prime Minister Sali Berisha's office in Tirana, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. The opposition supporters are staging the protest to demand a probe into allegations of vote rigging. Socialist lawmakers and hundreds of supporters spent the night in tents. No incidents were reported through Saturday morning.
  2. Albania's main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama (C), leads opposition supporters during a march in downtown Tirana on November 20, 2009. Thousands of opposition supporters began a weekend of protests accusing Prime Minister Sali Berisha's government of electoral fraud and demanding a recount of ballots cast in June polls.
  3. Albanian opposition supporters hold banners during a protest asking for a probe of their allegations of vote rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party, in Tirana, Albania, Friday, Nov 20, 2009.
  4. Albanian main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama speaks during a protest asking for a probe of their allegations of vote rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party, in Tirana, Albania, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.
  5. Albanian main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama speaks during a protest asking for a probe of their allegations of vote rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party, in Tirana, Albania, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.
  6. Albanian opposition supporters hold banners during a protest asking for a probe into their allegations of vote rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party, in Tirana, Albania, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.
  7. A woman walks among shoes thrown by Albanian journalists during a protest in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on Novembre 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought a 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  8. People hold up banners during a protest of Albanian journalists in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on Novembre 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought a 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  9. A woman holds up a banner which reads in bad english 'Berisha don't touch the media' during a protest of Albanian journalists in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on Novembre 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought a 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  10. An Albanian policeman stands among shoes thrown by Albanian journalists during a protest in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009 referring to an Iraqi journalist who was jailed for throwing his shoes at US former President George W. Bush on December 2008. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten on November 2 in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him. Taci bought an 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  11. Albanian protesters hold a banner reading 'Putin-Republik' during a protest of Albanian journalists in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on November 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought an 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  12. An Albanian policeman removes a banner after a protest of Albanian journalists in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on November 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought an 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  13. An Albanian woman holds up a banner, reading 'Berisha don't touch the media' during a protest of Albanian journalists in front of the government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. Mero Baze, an Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in a Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on Novembre 3. Baze, once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital after the businessman Rezar Taci and his two bodyguards beat him late on November 2. Taci bought an 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  14. An Albanian woman holds up a banner, reading 'Berisha don't touch the media' during a protest of Albanian Journalists in front of Government building in Tirana on November 4, 2009. An Albanian journalist has been severely beaten in Tirana cafe by a businessman who he criticised in his articles, police said on Novembre 3.Mero Baze, editor in chief of Tema newspaper and once close to Prime Minister Sali Berisha but later a fierce critic, was transported to a hospital beat him late on November 2.Taci bought an 85 percent stake in ARMO last year from the state, and had been accused of using his links with the premier to avoid taxes.
  15. A woman puts down a sign outside Prime Minister Sali Berisha's office in Tirana, after protesters threw shoes at the building, Wednesdaty Nov. 4, 2009. Several hundred Albanian journalists and other people have protested in Albania's capital over an attack against a prominent journalist and newspaper editor. Newspaper editor Mero Baze was beaten unconscious late Monday. Police have arrested two suspects in the case. Baze's independent TemA newspaper was highly critical of Berisha. The prime minister condemned the attack. The sign is a play on words related to the identity of the suspects, which means to say "Don't Touch The Media."
  16. Albanian President Sali Berisha arrives for the European People's Party (EPP) meeting prior to a European Union summit on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

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