CET ON-LINE* 27- May -96

Monday, May 27, 1996 Volume 1, Issue 355

An Albanian court on Friday sentenced three senior ex-communist officials

to death and two others to life in prison on charges of crimes against

humanity and

political persecution while in power. It was the first time former communist

officials have been sentenced to death since the totalitarian regime was toppled

in December 1990. Former president Haxhi Lleshi, 83, decorated by the

communists for his fight against Nazi occupiers in World War Two, and

former deputy prime minister Manush Myftiu, 77, were sentenced to life in

prison on the same charges.

The court's decision came two days ahead of Albania's third free general

elections, a showdown between the ruling conservative Democrats and the

Socialists, reformed heirs of the communist party which ruled Albania for over

four decades. Albania extended voting in the former communist state's third

free election by two hours on Sunday, as queues formed at polling stations for

the tight race between the ruling conservatives and opposition Socialists.

Witnesses said voting was brisk and likely to meet the expected turnout of

around 80 percent.

The extension came half way through the first stage of the two-round

vote, which began at seven a.m. (0500 GMT). The second round will be held

on June 2 in constituencies where no candidate has won more than 50 percent

of the vote. Communications remain primitive in Albania and it may take

some time for the results from the 4,703 polling stations to reach Tirana's

Central Electoral Commission, the state body overseeing election

organisation.