Berat: in the explosion, the victims’ bodies were thrown 100 metres away
Massacre with detonators: Three dead
The power of gunpowder unleashed, a deadly explosion
BERAT - A massacre in Poliçan. Three people died after a terrible explosion involving a considerable quantity of detonators. A mistaken blow with a pickaxe—the detonators had been kept in a barrel—proved fatal for the two Zaimi brothers from Poliçan and a young man from the village of Potom in Skrapar. The three victims, aged 30–35, have now been buried; their coffins contained parts of their bodies, unbelievably mutilated by the explosion. It happened on Saturday afternoon at a place called Lëmi i Kiqos, a few kilometres from the town of Poliçan. Two brothers from this town, Shpëtim Vëri Zaimi, 32, and 35, as well as Jaup Hasa, 34, from the village of Potom in Skrapar, lost their lives as a result of a powerful explosion involving a quantity of ammunition primers.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon, a few kilometres from Poliçan. A careless blow with a pickaxe struck a primer, causing the terrible explosion. The barrel contained around 500,000 ammunition primers.
The young Buzi
On page 5
Arrest of the loan-sharking traders postponed
First complaints against “Arkond”
Arrest of the loan-sharking traders postponed
Following the complaint and charges brought by SHIK, yesterday complaints were also filed with the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office by three clients who had invested their money in this company.
On page 5
Italy decides to look left
Parliamentary elections
Italy decides to look left
Votes for the “Olive Tree”
Prodi after the victory
Reactions of the Albanian parties
On page 2
PS at rally: Campaign begins
Socialists launch their election campaign from Tirana
PS at rally: Campaign begins
Pëllumbi: “Let’s guard the ballot boxes”
PS announces its 11 candidates
TIRANA - “I came to Tirana not to ask for the president, but to hang myself demonstratively in ‘Skënderbej’ Square, in protest against my bad luck. But when I saw the appointment and the presidential residence, I decided to ask for a meeting with the president before killing myself.” Ilir Buza, who has now gone down in history as the first young man who wanted to meet Berisha with a bomb in his hand, has recounted how he ended up in front of the presidency, in full view of the snipers. Buza told the court yesterday that he was not mentally ill at all; the only illness behind the incident—the most unusual ever to occur in Albania—was the illness of extreme poverty that had engulfed his family in the village of Mazhë, in Krujë. What happened on Friday in front of the presidency and in the television cameras’ view was nothing more than the culmination of an emotional tragedy which, for years, had slowly been killing the tormented soul of the man from Krujë.
On page 5
A transfusion at the top of PD
Voting on Sunday. Shehu: “We completed the renewal”
at the top of PD
Leadership changes: Ruli, Uka… out
On page 5
PD headquarters
SP announces 11 candidacies for the capital
Agim Fagu, Ermelinda Meksi, Luan Hajdara-ga, the socialist leader of Tirana, Musa Ulqini—here are some of the main names
On page 3
Pëllumbi at the SP rally (photo: H. Pustina)
Shehu and Wirth together for two hours
“Very visible progress”
U.S. Secretary of State: “We will follow the elections with interest”
TIRANA — A senior official from Washington was Tritan Shehu’s guest yesterday for more than two hours at the PD’s headquarters. Timothy E Wirth, Secretary of State for Global Affairs, was briefed on Albania’s political and economic climate.
On page 3
He harasses a girl; they stab him
FIER
On page 5
Dynamite charge for fishing: man killed
KAVAJË
On page 5
They robbed the refugee: 3 arrested
KORÇË
On page 5
“Tirana” against the Federation
After the incident in Vlora
“They want to take our title away”
FOOTBALL
After the incident in Vlora
“Tirana” against the Federation
“They want to take our title away”
TIRANA — “Margjini’s removal from the field was not the result of the last incident in Vlora, but a decision that came as a consequence of all the injustices done to our team during this championship.” Strong accusations by “Tirana” coach Sulejman Mema against the FSHF officials, the Albanian referees’ committee in Tirana, and the FSHF appeals committee.
On page 7
Malko: “It was a kind of refereeing I had never seen before. He was determined to give the match to ‘Flamurtari’”
Kadare explains himself
CULTURE
Kadare explains himself
“Onufri” publishes the dialogue with Bosquet
On page 7
Kodra celebrates his birthday
Among painters in the capital
TIRANA — Surrounded by painters, sculptors and various artists, in the wavering half-light of candles, the great master of painting Ibrahim Kodra celebrated his birthday yesterday in Tirana. At a special ceremony, with the ‘merimin’ by senior Albanian officials—one of the central figures of contemporary painting celebrated, for the first time, a significant day in his life in his own country.
“I wished you success, and I am delighted to see so many of you here, the great painters, sharing the great joy of this birthday,” were Berisha’s words. Best wishes and thanks also came from Culture Minister Laço, who did not hesitate to express the artists’ wish—and that of ordinary Albanians—for an exhibition of Kodra’s works in the leading galleries.
Referring to Dar-res, Kodra credits his success not only to his talent, but first and foremost to Odisea Pashkalli, who discovered his abilities. After studying in Italy, he quickly rose through the ranks of painting and became a friend of the great masters of world art.
Voting on Sunday. Shehu: “We completed the renewal”
