Albania Parties OK June Election Date

TIRANA, Albania — Coaxed by an international envoy, political parties in Albania on Thursday set a June 29 date for parliamentary elections to put the anarchic country back on the road to stability.

But enormous differences remained among Albania’s bitterly divided political camps.

The continued control of the south by rebel committees, an electoral law that effectively shuts small parties out of parliament and unequal opposition access to state-run TV and radio were prime concerns raised by parties meeting the envoy, former Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky.

Meanwhile, a multinational European force meant to secure roads and ports for aid delivery started spreading out Thursday.