. For the first time, he tells the truth about the assassination attempt. Gafur Mazreku: Fehmi Abdiu got me into a quarrel with Azem Hajdari. Pages 12, 13

EDITORIAL. By Genci ÇOBANI. We have no electricity, and certainly no water. As for money, we cannot collect it because the speculators, who have been eagerly awaiting this day, are skinning us for the little bit of skin left to us by an indifferent and impotent government, incapable of managing even its electoral victory (crises are out of the question). No one can say these shortages are minor. On the contrary, in a certain sense—or, better still, in every sense of the word—they are more than enough to convince us that our existence is just a gasp for breath, or, as has become customary in the ordinary jargon of the day before yesterday: “We’re alive, so to speak.” Nevertheless, the crisis of losses, the heavy burden of shortages, has now turned against us in all its punishing ferocity. This period of sanctions has taken away even the little “pleasure” we had left—the government’s hypocrisy, its promises and its “sharing of our troubles”—leaving us without a prime minister, too. The appearance of this personage on television, and the publication of interviews and casual conversations by Mr. Meta about various issues around the globe, starting with the elections in Kosovo (which perhaps only Meta and his cabinet do not need), and the crisis in the Middle East, can provoke no other feeling than extreme irritation, when that same prime minister (who, unfortunately for Albanians, is their prime minister) has still not said a word publicly about the electricity. He could at least make excuses, make promises, or say that the electricity crisis is the opposition’s doing. In any case, even if he would not bring us electricity, some people—the ones who pretend to believe him—would be cheered up. We would at least see that our prime minister is in good health, and we would change (as he would tell us) from electricity, water and bread to having them one day. But there you have it: even that is not happening. Whereas elsewhere in the world, in such cases, they resign...

Half of Tirana queues outside the shops. Peripheral-area traders give up . HUNGER. The crisis reaches its peak: bread costs 700 lekë. Flour also gets more expensive, by 7,000 lekë. Bakeries with no work throw dough into the street. Page 3

War-like gunfire in Laç; unrest returns . The police station is attacked, one person killed. One person was killed by the Police, and the situation in Laç has spiralled out of control. This was the outcome of what happened yesterday in this town, although the situation would have escalated—and with whom—if the Police had not fired. A permitted Democratic Party rally caused real confusion and chaos for the residents of this town yesterday afternoon, and after the serious incident they were forced to shut themselves inside their homes. It began with a Democratic Party rally, for which the local police authorities had granted permission. A few minutes before the Democrats’ protest was due to begin, precisely as the blue-uniformed officers had blocked off the town square’s main thoroughfare. Page 5

Socialists continue their disputes over the Government . Nano demands Muçi’s dismissal. The Meta–Nano debate over changes to the government has now “stalled” on the name of Paskal Milo alone. Reports from people close to the Socialist leader, which are also not denied by sources close to the prime minister, say that the list of changes will remain an “open dispute” until the General Steering Committee meeting ends, which will take place the day after tomorrow. The same sources say that the name of Paskal Milo is not the main point of disagreement between the two important Socialist “friends”. Page 4

Republicans announce protest strategy . Begeja: Now, on to the international headquarters. “We will present our protests, together with the full documentation of the manipulations carried out by the Socialists and their structures, to the headquarters of international organizations in Europe and to the US Department of State.” This was what PR deputy leader Maksim Begeja told journalists yesterday about the course of action to be pursued in response to the manipulation of 1 October. Page 2

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The Discovery . Medicines for Albanians are bought in India. Page 11