(14 Mar 1997) T/I: 11:23:18
Hundreds of foreign nationals and some Albanians on Friday (14/3) scrambled aboard evacuation helicopters to flee the spreading chaos in Europe's poorest country.
US and Italian military helicopters flew embassy dependants and other citizens out of Tirana. The capital was threatened by the same anarchy which has gripped southern Albania for two weeks.
Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and OSCE envoy Franz Vranitzky met aboard an Italian warship in the Adriatic. Vranitzky later said Albania needed an international police force to help end the chaos.
In Tirana, armoured police vehicles reappeared on the capital's streets after an absence of several days. Many were manned by armed civilians.
SHOWS:
ALBANIA/ADRIATIC SEA 14/3
TIRANA, ALBANIA:
0.00 MS donkey-drawn cart flanked by looters moving down street
0.09 WS American evacuees lining up to board bus
0.12 MS front of line, bus door
0.14 CU evacuees showing their passports before boarding
0.20 WS US Marine helicopter landing in field
0.24 MS Marines running out of helicopter
0.27 WS helicopter gunship overhead
0.29 WS American evacuees going down slope to board helicopter
0.32 CU Italian soldier guarding helicopter evacuation on soccer field
0.35 MS Italians being frisked before boarding
0.39 WS German helicopter about to touch down, soldiers crouching
0.43 WS people crouching, audio of gunshots
0.46 CU evacuees crouching in tight group, looking worried
0.48 MS chaos as two white police vans speed around evacuees, men inside firing
0.53 MS German soldiers returning fire
0.57 CU man prone behind small baggage
0.59 WS evacuees hurrying to board German helicopter after calm returns
Adriatic Sea:
1.03 MS Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and OSCE envoy Franz Vranitzky meeting aboard Italian warship.
1.07 CU Vranitzky
1.11 CU Fino and aides
1.14 English NATSOT Franz Vranitzky, former Austrian Chancellor: "The Albanian government says clearly, and I believe them, that they cannot do it on themselves and they need international help and support."
TIRANA, ALBANIA:
1.22 MS police armoured vehicle carrying armed civilians moving past two saluting uniformed police officers
1.28 WS rear view armoured police vehicle moving down street
1.32 WS convoy of police vehicles moving through main square, some occupants firing rifles into the air
1.46 Vision ends
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