(16 Sep 1998) English/Nat
Albania's former president Sali Berisha could face possible arrest for allegedly trying to oust the government.
Berisha has vowed to continue his battle for power - even from prison and has called for supporters to overrun police blockades to join new protests.
His supporters gathered in the streets shouting slogans against Prime Minister Fatos Nano, whom they blame for the weekend assassination of popular politician Azem Hajdari.
Chanting death to Fatos Nano, Berisha's supporters marched toward the city's main Skanderbeg Square for another rally.
Hajdari's slaying on Saturday touched off two days of rioting which has plunged this impoverished Balkan nation into its second major crisis in 18 months.
At a news conference in Tirana, Berisha derided the Albanian government.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Now I am sad to tell you international press, how powerless is this man - he told the international community that I 'm not allowed to do that only in the cases of the missing of Prime Minister -- it is absolutely not true. It is allowed in special cases to chair the government and sign the decision this is what (inaudible) provision says"
SUPER CAPTION: Sali Berisha, Albania's former President
Berisha vowed to continue his battle and said he would never leave his beloved country.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
I will always be in this country, alive or dead in my house or elsewhere this is the paradise for Sali Berisha and never I will leave it - never I will leave Albania.
SUPER CAPTION: Sali Berisha, Albania's former President
Some two thousand chanting supporters rallied in central Tirana on Wednesday as parliament met to discuss whether to withdraw his parliamentary immunity.
With his wife Liri at his side, Berisha called on the supporters to walk with their hands held aloft in the V-sign as they had done on Tuesday to mourn their slain party colleague Azem Hajdari.
The rally coincided with the start of a parliamentary debate on whether to lift the immunity of the former President so he can face government accusations of staging a coup
Berisha has adamantly denied the allegations.
Under Albanian law, the charge of armed uprising carries a sentence of life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
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