(ANSA-AP) - TIRANA — Preliminary results in Albania's municipal elections show the country's leftist majority is ahead in most municipalities, including the capital Tirana and other main cities. About one-third of the ballots from Sunday's election have been counted so far. Albanians were voting to elect 61 mayors and 1,600 municipal counselors in a new trimmed-down municipal structure.

With a turnout of about 48 percent, the vote was considered a key step toward convincing the European Union to launch membership negotiations with Albania, which was granted candidate status last year.

Osce international monitors in the afternoon presented a relation with many critiques, though freedom of electors choice and a quiet electoral campaign. Only minor scuffles or alleged manipulation attempts were reported during the voting, which in the past has been marred by problems. (ANSA-AP).