World IN BRIEF : ALBANIA : Communists Allow New Political Parties

The ruling Communist Party in Albania decided to allow the formation of political parties, the state news agency ATA said. The surprise decision to liberalize politics in the Balkan nation was made during a meeting of the party’s policy-setting Central Committee. Albania would be the last country in Europe to introduce a multi-party system. The Central Committee meeting was held following student unrest that started over the weekend. ATA said the Central Committee also fired five full members and one candidate member of the Politburo. Some observers said the reshuffle and the call for independent parties was a defeat for hard-liners.