http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=454175&section=news

Albanians try to storm PM's office
Sat 7 February, 2004 18:03

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian opposition protesters are demanding the prime minister's resignation tried to storm his office and republican guardsmen blocking their way fired warning shots, witnesses said.

Guardsmen and police in riot gear used gun butts and truncheons to repel the crowd protesting at Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano's policies which they say have made Albanians poorer.

Protesters among a 2,000-strong crowd on Saturday hurled chunks of paving stones and the wooden handles of placards at the building, breaking glass panes in the main gates. The guards' commander sustained a head wound from one missile.

About 100 protesters made it up the stairs to the entrance to Nano's office before being beaten back, witnesses said. Guards secured the area with barbed wire.

The violence recalled the opposition storming of the same building in 1998, leading to Nano's resignation. Democrat supporters had been angry at the murder of an opposition MP and Nano fled to Macedonia , only returning to power in July 2002.

Earlier on Saturday, more than 4,000 protesters led by Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, a former president, had rallied in Tirana's central square, chanting "Nano leave".

"You Nano should leave because for seven years you have buried the free vote of Albanians and you will follow the steps of (Georgian President Eduard) Shevardnadze," Berisha said.

He later blamed secret service agents for having caused the trouble, and invited his supporters to bring flowers, not stones, in an effort to imitate the bloodless November revolt in Georgia that toppled Shevardnadze.

Extremely critical of Nano but unable to gather enough support at the ballot box to defeat the Socialists since 1997, Berisha called the protest amid popular discontent over increases in power and telephone charges.

Deputy Prime Minister Namik Dokle urged Berisha to distance himself from those who caused the incidents, which he said were "failed attempts to spoil the image of Albania , rein in reforms and the government's efforts to join the EU and NATO".

Nano, who is in Spain for a meeting of the Socialist International, came under fire in January for delaying his return home after at least 20 Albanians froze to death at sea while trying to cross illegally to Italy .

His government has been praised for the successful sale of the largest state bank and work on closer ties with the European Union, but it has been criticised for doing little to fight crime and corruption and failing to speed up market reforms.

08 Feb 2004 18:02:20 GMT

EU and US condemn protest violence in Albania

TIRANA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States said on Sunday they would not allow political violence to harm Albania's European integration, after opposition protesters tried to storm the prime minister's offices.

The EU ambassador to Tirana, Lutz Saltzmann, praised police for taking "mature and adequate decisions" when they fired in the air on Saturday to prevent some demonstrators out of a gathering of 4,000 from forcing their way into the offices of Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

The violence recalled the opposition storming of the same building in 1998, which led to Nano's resignation. He returned to power in 2002.

Opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha called Saturday's protest to tap discontent over increases in power, telephone and water charges which EU officials support.

He urged Nano to step down or face the same fate as Georgia 's Eduard Shevardnadze, overthrown by mass unrest in November, but blamed secret service agents for the violence.

Albania has started negotiations with the rich 15-member EU bloc on an association and stabilisation agreement, the ante-chamber to membership. Brussels has urged Tirana to do more to fight crime and speed up reforms.

"I do not believe that the European Union or the European Commission will allow that politically violent people are going to influence this process," Saltzmann told reporters.

"I do not believe that the situation in Albania is comparable to that of Georgia ," he added.

"I also believe the great majority here in Albania is fed up with street fighting and would like to see politicians act in a mature way, and really perform and show some results," he added.

A U.S. embassy spokesman said: "We are 100 percent in agreement with the statement by Ambassador Saltzmann."

Saltzman backed the increase of public sector utility prices, saying the rises had been "relatively low, not cost-covering, and the state budget has not sufficient revenues to continue to subsidise heavily public services".

"Prices will have to be raised at least to be cost-covering. If this is not the case, international donors will also have great difficulties to invest here in the country," he added.

On Sunday, the broken glass had been replaced at the front gates of the government building. Barbed wire used to protect it during the protest lay nearby. The opposition has said it plans more protests.

EU blasts violent Albanian protest

09 February 2004 

The European Commission condemned Monday an attempt by stone-throwing Albanian demonstrators to force their way into a government building in protest at the rule of Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

"Those who mix peaceful demonstrations with violent methods are doing damage to their own cause," said Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for EU external relations commissioner Chris Patten.

"Those who want a change of government" should "use the methods of democracy", she added.

Riot police fired in the air Saturday to disperse hundreds of demonstrators as they tried to force their way into a government building in central Tirana. At least two policemen and two soldiers were wounded.

Albania, which was long Europe's poorest nation, has been pressing for a stabilization and association agreement with the EU since January 2003 and hopes to sign an accord this year, seen as a key step towards EU membership.