British diplomat Geoffrey Briggs was recovering in hospital from stab wounds tonight after he was attacked, apparently by his Albanian girlfriend.
In what sources described as a domestic incident, he was stabbed in the abdomen by his lover in the Albanian capital Tirana.
The Second Economic Secretary at the British Embassy in the strife-torn former Communist state was airlifted in an Italian military helicopter to hospital in southern Italy for an emergency operation.
Officials of the Di Summa hospital in Brindisi confirmed that Mr Briggs, 33, had undergone surgery there.
British officials stressed he was not in danger, describing his condition as satisfactory.
The Foreign Office said: ''We can confirm that a diplomat from Britain is recovering in Brindisi after medical treatment. We are in touch with his family.''
They emphasised that the attack was not politically motivated and had nothing to do with crime or the security situation.
It is believed that Mr Briggs, who is not married, was involved in a relationship with a local Albanian woman.
Albania was plunged into anarchy earlier this year after the collapse of shady investment schemes which impoverished thousands.
Evacuation of more than 120 Britons and other nationals got under way from strife-torn Albania tonight as the country degenerated into violent turmoil.
Scores of Britons, together with Irish and Commonwealth citizens, were evacuated from Tirana in March.
SAS teams were then flown in to rescue Britons trapped in isolated parts of the country.
Mr Briggs joined the Diplomatic Service in 1988. He has also served in Cairo.
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