Albania's police fire teargas to disperse protesters hurling petrol bombs

8/10/2024 12:30

        Albanian police fired tear gas to disperse opposition protesters who hurled petrol bombs at government buildings and smashed city property in what they said was part of a civil disobedience against the government.
        
        Protesters accused Prime Minister Edi Rama's government of corruption, nepotism and trying to silence the opposition.
        
        They also protested against keeping under house arrest opposition party leader Sali Berisha on corruption charges for actions he took when he was prime minister. Berisha has denied any wrongdoing.
        
        They also demanded the release of member of parliament Ervin Salianji who was jailed last week for making what authorities said was a “false report” against the former interior minister.
        
        Salianji has denied any wrongdoing and described the trial as politically motivated.
        
        More than 1,000 police officers were deployed across the streets in capital Tirana as thousands of opposition supporters walked from one building to another hurling petrol bombs, rocks and other solid objects, video from the scene showed.