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Crime, a challenge to Poçi and the Police Another police officer was killed. Another serviceman lost his life trying to persuade the masked men on the road to surrender. This was the tragic toll of the incident that took place on one of the national highways, which the head of the Ministry of Public Order says “are under the complete control of the Police.” And as if 189 police officers killed across Albania were not enough, in three days two more police officers were brutally killed. What happened in Tepelenë, too, convinces you that Poçi’s statements that law and order prevail are untrue, and that Police operations are nothing more than a “show.” What yesterday’s incident proved is that the roads continue to be under the control of people wearing police uniforms as disguises. After the serious events in Shkodër, crime seems to have changed direction. According to sources at the Ministry of Public Order, “certain, unidentified groups are seeking to shift serious crime from the South to the North of the country.” The police officer killed yesterday, although not “in the line of duty,” was killed by criminal gangs, which Poçi boasts—even before Albanian parliamentarians—have been completely eliminated. Any Albanian citizen who blindly believes this lie is a victim of the victims. The gruesome crime occurred at 2:10 a.m., when masked individuals dressed in the uniform of the special police forces shot police officer Sihat Shehaj, 30, and Pëllum Shehaj, 42. The victims’ wives miraculously escaped the bullets. The police officer killed yesterday, although not “in the line of duty,” was killed by criminal gangs, which Poçi boasts—even before Albanian parliamentarians—have been completely eliminated. Any Albanian citizen who blindly believes this lie is a victim of the victims. When Poçi hears that a crime like the one in Shkodër, or yesterday’s in Tepelenë, has occurred, he asks: “What is going on, then?” What kind of calm is Minister Poçi or some other senior official of the Ministry of Public Order talking about?

March 8: a celebration of mothers or of women? One answer says it is a celebration of women: today, at every workplace, a modest bonus has been approved exclusively for women employees. And you, receiving the symbolic gifts of the holiday today, remember how, as soon as you opened your eyes, your mother came over and gently caressed you in a special way. You ran to wish her well, as if it were a holiday belonging only to her: “You are my mother, the most beautiful in the world...” For all mothers on March 8, this phrase rings equally true. You forget that you, too, have received a bonus. The greeting is for you as a woman, too. And for your mother. You never forget the feeling that she is expecting a gift from you. This time, March 8 in Albania turns out to be a celebration without criteria. P. 11 Albanian women in the new millennium

P. 2 Protest over property by the League of Associations of Central Albania P. 8 Tourist areas come alive thanks to officials P. 9 Saddam ready to send Iraqi soldiers to Yugoslavia P. 4

Today, at 11:00, the United Albanian Right will hold a press conference at the PR Central Headquarters. Journalists from the print and electronic media are invited to attend. The United Albanian Right