EU condemns Albania's opposition violence at parliament

TIRANA, Albania – The European Union has condemned violence by the Albanian opposition during voting for a temporary prosecutor general.

A statement Tuesday urged Albanian political parties "to work in partnership in pursuing important reforms that are also crucial for Albania's aspiration to join the EU."

On Monday, opposition lawmakers threw smoke bombs inside parliament and their supporters clashed with police outside during the voting of the interim prosecutor general opposing it as unconstitutional.

The EU and the U.S., which also strongly condemned the violence, have helped Albania draft judicial reforms and they supported naming someone to the position temporarily until a permanent commission, which hasn't been created, appoints a prosecutor general.

Albania, a NATO member since 2009, was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to launch negotiations next year.