Pristina [Kosovo] / Belgrade [Serbia], October 17: Violent student protests against poor university conditions and the government spread across Albania on Thursday, marking a third consecutive day of unrest. Following initial clashes between police and demonstrators in the capital Tirana, the unrest spread to three further cities.
Parliament postponed a session until next week due to the demonstrations, while Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed the chaos on the opposition, accusing it of trying to derail Albania's EU accession bid.
The opposition was attempting to drag Albania back into the abyss using "fire and iron," the Socialist leader said, according to local media. He described EU accession as "the dream of all Albanians across generations." Police Chief Skender Hita said the violence was not being instigated by students. Of the numerous demonstrators detained in recent days, "only very few were students," he said.
He blamed other individuals from Albania and abroad, without providing further details. Media reports said more than 100 suspected rioters had been detained over the past two days, but Hita gave no figures.
Source: Qatar Tribune
