Police take last-minute measures. Former SHIK agent arrested. Firm order: open fire on armed men. Two phone numbers for emergencies involving foreigners Last night the Democrats urgently called a second press conference: the PS is distributing more lists

By Paul CARREL Albania’s government, led by the socialists, needs a convincing “Yes” in today’s referendum on the country’s first post-communist Constitution in order to ensure popular support for its policies, the OSCE said on Saturday. Daan Everts, head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Tirana, said that low turnout in the referendum and approval of the Constitution by a narrow margin could be considered a success for the opposition Democratic Party of former President Sali Berisha. The PD urged Albanians to boycott the referendum, hoping that low turnout would strengthen its call for early elections. “If there is satisfactory participation and a massive ‘Yes’, the strategy of the PD leadership will be called into question within the party,” Everts said in an interview with Reuters, adding: “On the other hand, if turnout is really low and there is only a ‘Yes’ by a narrow margin, then this will be considered a failure of the government.” The OSCE and other international organizations have actively encouraged Albanians to take part in the referendum, which, they hope, will help a stable democratic culture take root in the troubled country. The Parliament, dominated by the socialists and boycotted by the Democrats for most of the[?]

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- The whole issue is who will hold the veil. Cartoon: Medi Bekt... [?]

Special, pp. 16–17

“Skënderbeu” threatened with a bomb; 7 traffickers arrested; Inspection of dentists was disgraceful; Cold claims one life in Kavajë; Pages 2–7 [Box] DBSH, elections after the Constitution; Page 3 [Box] Arta Dade: The PD has been usurped by a dangerous individual. The PS secretary speaks to “Republika”; Page 15

Lindita Arapi, “Melodies of Silence”; Solzhenitsyn, “Russia Under the Avalanche”; Joyce, “A Mother”; Farmak, “A Bullet for Me”; Entela Komnino, “Konica: Letters as a Career, Sown with Thorns”; and a series of cartoons by Belortaja