(26 Jan 1997) Natural Sound

Tens of thousands of protesters unsatisfied with promises to return the money they lost in get-rich-quick schemes have clashed with police in the Albanian capital, Tirana.

The protest Sunday came a day after mobs smashed windows, attacked the deputy prime minister, and beat riot police in the provincial town of Lushnja.

The town settled down overnight, but the rally in Tirana Sunday made it clear that Albanians' rage over losing their money hasn't subsided.

Political parties gathered about 25-thousand people for the rally near the centre of the capital Tirana Sunday morning.

They were demanding the return of money from failed get-rich-quick savings schemes.

They shouted "Down with Berisha!" and "We want our money!"

Then they marched towards Tirana's main Skanderbeg Square.

Last week, police beat demonstrators who tried to march to the square.

But on Sunday they appeared more intent on protecting key buildings like the Ministry of Defense, the National Bank and parliament.

One group of protesters clashed with police at an intersection, and the police withdrew under a hail of rocks and stones.

Many shops in Tirana were closed in anticipation of more trouble.

At one point the crowd on the square swelled to about 35-thousand people.

Police used water cannons and fired into the air to try to disperse a stone-throwing crowd that seized the main square in the Albanian capital, Tirana.

At least two policemen were injured in the melee, which broke out as a delegation of the 35-thousand protesters tried to negotiate their way through a police cordon.

They were trying to send representatives to parliament to demand the resignation of the government.

Political enemies of Albanian President Sali Berisha and his Democratic Party are accusing officials of using money from the savings funds to finance election campaigns.

The Democrats deny this, but they're coming under extreme pressure from the streets.

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть