Deceased Albanians still eligible to vote

TIRANA (Reuters) - Many Albanians born in the 19th century are listed as voters for the June 28 general elections because they have not been declared dead, officials said on Thursday.

Citing the case of a 159-year-old called to vote, the main opposition Socialist Party said thousands of similar cases had made Albanians lose trust in free and fair polls.

"Over 17,000 Albanians, almost the equal of two lawmakers' seats, are aged from 90 up to the age of 159 of Shqype Hasibja," the Socialists' electoral affairs chief, Kastriot Islami, said.

Islami said 5,000 voters were more than 100-years-old and 3,300 voters were more than 110-years-old.

"I do not think there is any other country in Europe with so many flaws, both tragical and comical," Islami added.

The Interior Ministry said it was true a number of citizens aged over 100 were on the voters' lists but they could not be erased from the register unless declared dead.

"We think the claim of the Socialist Party to consider as dead any citizen over 90-years-old is unreasonable," it added.

The West has urged Albania to hold free and fair elections on June 28 to advance its European Union bid because its polls since 1996 have failed to meet international standards.