Albanian parliament elects Bamir Topi president

TIRANA, July 20 (Reuters) Albania's parliament elected the ruling Democratic Party's vice chairman, Bamir Topi, president today, avoiding a snap general election that would have delayed reforms needed for membership of the European Union and NATO.

Topi, 50, received 85 votes in the penultimate round, one more than needed, thanks to several opposition Socialist Party lawmakers who disregarded an opposition call for a boycott of the vote.

Topi has a five-year term of office and succeeds Alfred Moisiu, who was elected by consensus in 2002.

REUTERS MP PM0140