A blame game has developed in Albania in the wake of the deaths of three people in an anti-government protest in the capital, Tirana, yesterday.
Protestors, demonstrating outside the offices of Prime Minister Sali Berisha in the capital city of Tirana, set fire to several vehicles and police responded with tear gas.
Both Mr Berisha and opposition socialists have apportioned blame to each other for the deaths, and each side has vowed to stage new rallies in an escalating political conflict.
One of Europe's poorest countries, Albania joined NATO nearly two years ago but the European Union rejected its application last year to become an official candidate to join the bloc, urging it to fight corruption and establish a functioning democracy.
The Socialists have refused to accept the results of a 2009 election which gave Prime Minister Berisha a second four-year term in office and accuse his government of corruption and vote fraud.
Three civilians died in Friday’s confrontation, one of a gunshot wound to the head and the two others with close-range shots to the chest, in the worst violence in the former communist country since protesters backing Mr Berisha stormed the same government building in 1998 following the death of a lawmaker.
As mourners buried the dead on Saturday, the leader of the Socialist Party, Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, blamed Mr Berisha's government for the deaths and promised more protests to get rid of what he called an ‘intolerable regime of thieves’.
Mr Rama pointed to video footage, played repeatedly on Albanian television on Saturday, which appeared to show a protester standing outside a metal gate in front of the premier's office being hit by shots originating from the courtyard on the other side of the gate.
‘We will continue our protests and demonstrations, without violence, peacefully, wisely, with the unstoppable power of the people's resistance,’ Mr Rama said.
Mr Berisha, who has accused Rama of attempting a Tunisia-style uprising, blamed the deaths on the opposition leader and his allies: ‘They are the real authors of this ugly crime. Yesterday's anti-constitutional act bears your name and you will face all the consequences.’
The prime minister called on Albanians of all political colours to attend an anti-violence rally on Wednesday.
