Albania mourns death of British comic hero

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Through decades of Communist isolation, Albanians had little reason to laugh.

Authorities imposed a ruthless ban on most forms of free expression, outlawed religion, overseas travel, and Western movies — making one curious exception.

British slapstick comedian Norman Wisdom was the only Western entertainer shown on Albanian television during the grim years under paranoid dictator Enver Hoxha, who ruled Albania from 1941 to 1985.

The acrobatic funnyman — who apparently amused Communist authorities with his portrayal of the downtrodden Englishman — died in Britain at the age of 95 on Monday after suffering a series of strokes.

Albanians, from …