Charges made for deadly Albanian blast

TIRANA, Nov. 1 – Albania prosecutors on Monday asked for harsh prison terms, including life imprisonment, for the persons accused of the death of 26 people in blasts at an ammunition disposal factory three years ago.
Prosecutors have asked for life imprisonment for top Defense Ministry official Ylli Pinari, owner and manager of the private company responsible for dismantling the ammunition, as well as Mihal Delijorgji and Dritan Minxholli. They also asked for prison terms of 1 to 23 years for 25 other army and public officials, including eight years for former army chief of staff Luan Shehu and also another former army general.
All have denied wrongdoing.
Many of the former army staff was also expelled from public duties for five years.
The Albdemil Company was also fined 75 million lek and banned from the dismantling activity for 25 years.
Families of the victims complained that the sentences were not severe enough, saying they expected life sentences for all of the defendants.
According to prosecutors, the explosion occurred after workers, often untrained and low-paid women and children, tried to weld several metal carriages used to transport heavy munitions, close to containers filled with explosives.
Immediately after the explosion, it emerged that the company that ran the factory had blatantly disregarded safety rules. The investigation led to criminal charges being filed against 29 people, ranging from abuse of power to murder.
Albania has pledged to get rid of all excess arms and ammunition by 2014, with U.S. and NATO help.