Albania holds Briton on charges of sex with minors

TIRANA, May 17 (Reuters) Albanian police said today they had detained a Briton on charges of having sex with minors at the premises of his charity and issued arrest warrants for two of his British colleagues on the same charges.

Johan Branon, 55, was accused of engaging in sexual and homosexual relations with minors living in his home for Roma children, police said in a statement.

''Police are also searching for two more British nationals because they are also suspected of performing sexual and homosexual relations with minors,'' the statement said.

Branon and his two colleagues were taking care of some 50 Roma children in their premises of their charity called ''His Children'' for the past four years, police sources said.

They are suspected of having abused at least 14 children in the last three years, they added.

One of Europe's poorest countries, Albania has been recently cracking down on networks of child smugglers, including those accused of selling newborn babies and trafficking body organs.

REUTERS KD RN2115