Albania opposition vows protests

[Joanne98]

Source: Aljazeera

Albania's opposition has vowed to stage more anti-government protests, a day after a demonstration against Sali Berisha, the country's prime minister, ended in violence and deaths.

Clashes between the police and supporters of Albania's Socialist party broke out on Friday in Tirana, the capital, when demonstrators pelted Berisha's office building with sticks and stones, prompting police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.

Edi Rama, the leader of the Socialist party, blamed Berisha's government for the deaths and promised that protests would continue after the opposition observed a day of mourning.

"After we honour the dead in a show of freedom and justice, we assure Berisha that we will confront him with all the historical and civil responsibility we feel for getting rid of this intolerable regime of thieves," Rama said on Saturday.



Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/01/2011122134433502716.html

[David__77]

1. That Berisha guy won't go away...

But the Albanians keep putting him back in power... I do not understand.

[bigworld]

2. There aren't many others to choose from

Pretty much anybody with any position of authority prior to 1990 was an absolute Hoxha loyalist (or at least pretended to be). There aren't many people over the age of 40 in that country with any political experience that aren't tainted by their association with the regime.

[David__77]

3. And why is that a problem? Berisha was a party member as well.

Many people were party members who span the spectrum these days. Berisha was a party member for more than a decade, and was rather orthodox, in fact. I think he is rather the opportunist, and changes colors with the moment.