The victims were trying to reach Italy illegally

The governing Socialists control more than half the seats in parliament, and are not expected to be threatened by the vote on Friday.

Victims' relatives hurled abuse at Prime Minister Fatos Nano on Thursday.

The opposition accuses him of poor leadership for not returning from holiday after the accident.

In turn, the government has accused the opposition of exploiting the accident for political gain.

Freezing

The accident happened when a powerboat smuggling people across the Adriatic Sea to Italy broke down.

Seventeen men and three women, either drowned or died of exposure in freezing temperatures.

Two survivors, who were steering the boat, and three local officials, including the head of border police in the port of Vlore, have been arrested.

The tragedy shocked Albania and prompted a national day of mourning on Monday.

The victims had each paid more than 2,000 euros to the smugglers for the sea passage, which in a fast boat takes only three hours.

The Italians say the number of illegal immigrants arriving from Albania has decreased considerably since their navy began patrolling the Albanian coast to intercept people-smugglers.