Albania parties to resolve crisis

ALBANIA: Albania’s President and western envoys urged warring political parties to settle their differences and called on security forces to investigate the killing of three people in an anti-government protest.

Prosecutors said on Sunday that police had not yet carried out arrest warrants issued for the six republican guardsmen suspected of the shootings in Friday’s confrontation.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama have blamed each other for the deaths, with each side promising new rallies in an escalating political row.

“Restoring political dialogue, respect for the institutions of the state and the expression of maturity and balance is of a vital importance for the present and European future of Albania,” a statement from President Bamir Topi and U.S. and European Union ambassadors said on Saturday evening. They said it was “indispensable that law enforcement institutions cooperate with each other to conduct a transparent, professional and unbiased investigation”.

The Prime Minister said he would not allow fresh violence.

“Every attempt from him (Rama) for violence against institutions will have an exemplary punishment,” Berisha told a government meeting before his lawmakers approved a parliamentary investigation into the violence. “There will be zero tolerance for those who touch any institution.” Rama told Reuters he was committed to peaceful action.

Tirana, Monday, Reuters