The drama over Albania's long drawn-out elections of last weekend seemed to come to an end on Saturday as a small opposition party agreed to enter coalition government.

"I have accepted Berisha's invitation to form a coalition government with him," said Ilir Meta, head of the Socialist Integration Movement, a breakaway from the Socialists.

Meta confessed that he didn't feel happy for his decision which he said was the most difficult one in his career as a politician.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha earlier called Meta to become part of the government, saying the two parties share a very similar platform in governance.

"But I have no other choices," Meta said. "My refusal would lead my country into crisis. And my acceptance of the invitation will serve our country's best interest."

According to preliminary figures, the Democrats led by Berisha have gained 68 seats, the Socialists led by Edi Rama 65 and the LSI under Meta four in the 140-seat parliament. The other seats went to other smaller parties.

With more than 99 percent of votes counted, the country's central election commission said 49 percent of Albania's 3.1 million registered voters, or 1.55 million people, had cast ballots in the country's seventh parliamentary elections since 1991.

Source: Xinhua