Mayor of Albanian city arrested in corruption case

The mayor of Albania's third largest city has been arrested on illegal construction charges in a corruption case that has received national attention in a country striving to improve its corruption record.

Shpetim Gjika, a senior official in the governing Socialist Party and mayor of Vlora, 140 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of the capital Tirana, was arrested Friday along with a municipal official and construction company manager.

A public prosecutor's office said they were arrested on charges of abuse of office, falsifying documents and illegal construction.

The 52-year-old Gjika was cleared on similar charges last year.

Fighting corruption remains a top priority for Albania, which has been a NATO member since 2009 and was granted candidate status from the European Union last year.

AP