Husband, wife and one of their children are killed Fier / A miracle saves the 10-year-old girl. Two people suspected of being the perpetrators of the crime are detained A knock at midnight followed by bursts of automatic-gun fire kill the Kasëmi couple and their son. Their 10-year-old daughter miraculously survives, spending the night among three corpses. The crime is thought to have been committed over an unpaid debt FIER - An entire family was massacred at midnight on Thursday in the village of Vidhishtë, in Fier. Two masked people armed with automatic weapons knocked on the door of the Kasëmi family home and fired bursts from their guns at both parents, Ilmi and Roza Kasëmi, and their son Elton. All three were killed on the spot. The macabre scene took place in front of the couple’s little daughter—she is only 10—who miraculously survived. When the shooting began, she covered herself with a blanket, and the killers could not see her. Then the terrified little girl spent the entire night beside the bodies of her relatives, unable to bring herself to go outside. Only in the morning did she alert the village to what had happened. It is reported that two people suspected of being responsible for the incident have been detained—this is what the Interior Ministry spokesperson said—and investigations are continuing to establish the motive for the crime. An unpaid debt is thought to have been the cause. The perpetrators risk the death penalty for the criminal act, but although it remains in the Penal Code, it is no longer applied in Albania. On page 9 Fier, the Çuko brothers publicly hanged in 1992

Arrest the final word for Nehat Kulla TIRANA - Yesterday the judges ordered the arrest of Nehat Kulla and three other people who had been detained: the witness Mark Deda and the owner of the house where Kulla was caught, Mustafa Koka. On page 9

Albanian Human Development Report 1996 UNDP publishes the figures TIRANA - Around 80 percent of Albanians live at the European subsistence-minimum level, whereas in other countries in transition, such as Hungary, Poland or Bulgaria, this fate affects only 25–33 percent of the population. This is the UNDP report on human development in Albania during 1995, which has also backed up with figures the slogan “the poorest country in Europe.” Meanwhile, around 700,000 Albanians continue to be condemned to live in the deepest abysses of economic misery, far below the European minimum, receiving from the state survival assistance of around 31 dollars a month. On page 11

Mejdani: “Coalition? Cooperation only” Yesterday’s meeting of the General Steering Committee TIRANA - The Socialist Party has finally decided to take part in the local government elections. The final word was given by the General Com-

Days of anxiety in Palestine On page 2

In an empty courtroom, the trial lasted a few minutes TIRANE - The suicide bomber, Ilir Buza, before the court of justice. Facing the grave charges of attempted terrorism and illegal possession of a firearm, the young man from a remote village in Krujë seemed indifferent to what was being said about him during the proceedings. Completely naive, he did not even ask for a lawyer, despite facing the death penalty, and, not understanding what lay ahead of him, seemed to be simply a curious onlooker. On page 9 Buza during yesterday’s trial (photo: P. Ilo)

Last night, the beauties’ first poses before the public The show featured the elegant Californian host Tracy Kembël and her quite angelic, flawless and highly communicative partner Ardit Gjebrea. During the presentation of this event, she said she would also hear what the Albanian language sounds like. A strong rhythm brought the contestants onto the stage in their folk costumes, but Miss Albania was the first to wave the red flag with the black eagle in the middle. On the monitor, Jim Belushi greeted the show from the “House of Blues” and said how beautiful Albania, the Land of the Eagles, was. With his band, he brought the magical sounds of “Viva Las Vegas” into the hall. “Albania is a heart of Europe,” Belushi said, and he was praised as one of the misses. In the absence of the “Candy Kings” group, the show this time was recorded to the accompaniment of their rhythmic song, something rare that has happened even in the world ... A spirit of artistry like that of Albanians has produced indisputable talents over the years, who are now spread across Europe, but last night Grabocka had brought the best of them together. The dancer Ilir Kerni and his Croatian partner could not be absent. But what followed was moving: “Projekt Jon,” with its light music and wonderful polyphony. Last night, the selection for this year’s Miss contestants took place. The five best were Miss Albania, Holland, Belgium, Estonia and Miss Spain. Who would not be proud to be from Albania after seeing the video clips featuring the most beautiful singers from the Land of the Eagles? And the careers of these countries would be enriched by the wonderful voices of Inva Mula, Edit Mihali, Frederik Ndoci and all the participants in a magnificent show. Alba Malltezi Grabocka and the European misses

TIRANE - The Socialist Party has finally decided to take part in the Local Government elections. TIRANE - the Local Government elections. The final word has been given by the General Governing Committee. They have thus expressed their willingness to participate in the elections, while also reaffirming their desire to cooperate with progressive opposition parties, but not to form a coalition with the parties of the opposition bloc. Mejdani also stressed this yesterday. On page 3

FOOTBALL On page 10

TIRANE - The campaign with or without the President. This seems to be the line of Theodosius that has divided jurists and politicians into two camps. “The President is legally entitled to campaign.” This is how the head of the Central Commission, Nestor Treska, explained the Commission’s vote yesterday. The Socialist members of the Commission objected, arguing that “This is unconstitutional.” Yesterday, the debate within the Commission moved to the headquarters of the political parties, where their leaders took positions and gave their opinions on the role of the head of state in the local elections campaign. On page 3

TIRANE On page 9

BERAT On page 9

ELBASAN On page 9

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After the massacre Day In an empty courtroom, the trial lasted a few minutes Yesterday, the trial of the human bomb:

TIRANA