Albania struggles to find leader

TIRANA, Albania -- Albania's ruling Socialist party is continuing to look for a replacement for Prime Minister Ilir Meta who resigned amid party squabbles.

And a bitter row has broken out between Meta and party leader Fatos Nano.

Meta quit on Tuesday citing months of Cabinet in-fighting over economic policy.

While the Socialists look for a new prime minister, the opposition Democrats are demanding a place in a transitional government.

Meta accused Nano of having instigated the crisis because of the former prime minister's refusal to support Nano as a candidate for the presidency.

Nano denied the charge in a meeting of party leaders on Tuesday.

Another reason for tension has been Nano, himself the past target of corruption allegations, accusing Meta's government of corruption and incompetence, demanding that the Cabinet be restructured.

They met for four hours and were expected to resume their discussions on Wednesday to approve new party rules on how to form a new government to avoid a deepening of the crisis, which could trigger early elections.

Even if agreement is reached on the proposals, they still require approval by the Socialist Party's Steering Committee, which will also appoint a new prime minister.

That committee is scheduled to meet on February 1.

Opposition leader Sali Berisha, a former president, has demanded the formation of a transitional government including his Democratic Party.

The Democrats have boycotted parliament for months, calling last June's elections rigged.