TIRANA, June 6: A trial began on Friday of Albania's self-proclaimed King Leka I and one of his supporters on charges the two tried to organise an insurrection to resurrect the monarchy. Prosecutor Agim Cerkezi said both Leka and his supporter Abedin Mulosmani would be tried in absentia as they are not in the country.Leka faces death penalty if convicted, he said. The case centres on a rally addressed by Leka on July 3 last year to protest the failure of a referendum on bringing back the royal family as rulers.Concentrated gunfire broke out when Leka, armed with two pistols and a grenade, called on the crowd to use arms against the ``communists in power'' to reverse the fraud. One person was killed and several were injured.The trial is expected to continue next week.
