TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- The Constitutional Court abolished the death penalty in Albania on Friday, meeting the main criteria for the country's membership in the Council of Europe.
The court ruled the death penalty contradicted the constitution adopted in 1998. Albania suspended the death penalty in 1995, and said it would be abolished by 2000.Twenty convicted criminals were awaiting execution. They now will be sentenced to life in prison.
The 40-nation Council of Europe was set up in 1949 to promote democracy and human rights. Albania wants to be part of the council to boost European integration.