Tunisia-style protest alarms Albania PM

Albania’s premier has spoken strongly against the opposition’s “Tunisia-style” protest, which resulted in the government soldiers to kill three demonstrators.

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators stormed the streets of the capital following a call by Edi Rama, the leader of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania and the city’s mayor, AFP reported.

The opposition said the victims were shot by soldiers as they tried to enter government buildings. “The death of the three people is nothing other than a crime carried out by the state. Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his institutions are solely responsible,” Rama said.

On Saturday, however, Prime Minister Sali Berisha blamed the organizers for the fatalities and called for counter demonstrations. “I call on Albanians to gather Wednesday in Tirana to protest against the violence, it will be a big demonstration against violence.”

Berisha’s Deputy Ilir Meta has already resigned, submitting himself to “justice” as a regular citizen.

The developments followed popular revolution in Tunisia, which ended the 23-year-long rule of Tunisian President Zine El Abidin Ben Ali, sending him fleeing to Saudi Arabia.

The popular movement has sparked angry protests in Jordan, Egypt and Yemen and a warning by the regional organization of the Arab League against the Arab leaders further outraging people with their policies.