Thousands Demand Albanian PM Quits

Tirana _ Thousands of Albanians have protested demanding Prime Minister Sali Berisha quit over an alleged cover-up of last month’s army depot blasts.

The protest, organised by the Albanian Socialist Party and supported by other opposition leaders, was followed by a pop concert to celebrate the country's invitation to join NATO.

“With the integration of Albania into NATO, the political class was charged with a new goal to fulfil the aspirations of this country,” said Socialist leader, Edi Rama during the rally.

“We are deeply worried about the hand of corruption and incompetence that today rules Albania,” he added.

He repeated his call for Berisha to resign so according to him, the country can realise its ambition to join the European Union.

“The Prime Minister should give dignity to his government and the country by resigning after the outrageous implosion of corruption in his government,” said Rama.

“Corruption has tied the hands of our Prime Minister [Sali Berisha],” he added.

Berisha is accused of a cover-up into what was really going on at an army depot hit by a series of blasts on March 15, in the village of Gerdec, just 10 kilometers outside Tirana. 26 people were killed and more than 300 wounded.

According to estimates published by the Albanian government the explosion caused more than €15 million in damage to the surrounding area.

Opposition leaders have repeatedly called on Berisha to resign, but he has so far refused to quit.

The government finds itself also in a row involving arms trafficking allegations.

Last week, the New York Times alleged that senior Albanian politicians, including Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Defence Minster Fatmir Mediu, were involved in the international trade of weapons.

Both Berisha and Mediu have denied the accusations.

The article accuses Albanian officials of murky deals with United States-based AEY Company, which had its contract with the U.S. military revoked last week amid claims by the paper it was supplying decades-old ammunition to the Afghan army.

Albania’s Attorney General Ina Rama has announced a probe into claims the government was involved in arms trafficking. Read more: http://balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9078