Tirana (Albania), Dec 23 (AP) Albania's prime minister on Thursday apologised for a big leak of personal records from a government database of state and private employees, which he said seems more like an inside job than a cyber attack.

A file containing the personal identity card numbers, employment and salary data of some 637,000 people became public this week and was widely shared through messaging apps.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama said the leak is being investigated.

"According to a preliminary analysis, it looks more like an internal infiltration rather than an outside ... cyber-attack,” Rama told a press conference.

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"I have an idea that this was done to create confusion and animosity between the people and (the government),” he said.

Another leak of identity card records from a state database occurred ahead of Albania's parliamentary elections in April. (AP)

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