Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the Albanian government building and the capital city hall tonight, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama in corruption and demanding his resignation, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in front of Rama's office and later in front of Tirana City Hall. The police did not intervene, but extinguished the fires. There are no reports of casualties.
Protesters have also demanded the release of opposition leader Sali Berisha, who is under house arrest and under investigation for corruption while he was prime minister from 2005-2013. Berisha denies the charges and in turn insists Rama is trying to close the mouth of his adversaries.
„Albania is the only country in Europe with a political arrest of an opposition leader - without any facts, evidence or documents,”, Berisha said in a video message filmed at his home. “Edi Rama wants Albania without Albanians, opposition and justice,” he added, calling his followers to civil disobedience to force the government to call early elections.
Rama has been in power since 2013 and since then has won all parliamentary and local elections held in the country.