Albanian lawmakers voted Wednesday to lift the immunity of a former prime minister accused of corruption, paving the way for him to be investigated in a case that has triggered a severe political crisis.

Parliament voted 128-2 to lift the immunity of Ilir Meta, a lawmaker who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2002 and deputy prime minister to the current government since 2009.

Meta's resignation last month over corruption allegations led to political tensions that culminated in an anti-government protest that left four people dead.

Parliament on Thursday will discuss lifting the immunity of former economy minister Dritan Prifti in a related case.

Both men deny any wrongdoing and say they welcome the lifting of immunity so they can clear their names.

Meta resigned after Prifti made public a video allegedly showing Meta trying to influence him over a state tender for a hydropower station.

Meta, leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, part of the governing coalition, says the video was fabricated...

The Associated Press             16/02/2011