Police and disappointment. Only 24 lucky people Last night, lists with the 520 names scheduled to withdraw their deposits were posted Shouting that would not stop, the service-window glass smashed, and tears running down women’s cheeks. The threats seemed endless Kopliku has rejected the names on the anti-usury commission. “There are still no clearly defined elements concerning it” TIRANA - Loud cries and threats in front of Sudja’s apartment building. Yesterday morning there were around 2,000 people demanding that the usurer return their money. Nevertheless, among the victims, only 24 clients managed to withdraw their deposits, which were small amounts. Meanwhile, the published list contained 85 names, and last night around 10 p.m. the other 520 names of those scheduled to withdraw their money had been posted. While the protest at Sudja continued, yesterday Kopliku also no clearly defined elements of this commission.” A day earlier, the commission, with the names of seven people, had arrived at the desk of the DP deputy; Jorgo Bollano was named as its chairman, while Bollano confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare that “I had no knowledge whatsoever of this appointment.” Kopliku said that “the press can write whatever it wants, but until the law is officially published in the Official Gazette, nothing can be said in advance,” thereby underscoring the strict observance of deadlines. On page 3 Yesterday at the protests in front of Sudja (above). Sudja herself speaking from the window (Photo: P. Ilo)

“Together with Alia, he orchestrated April 2” Yesterday, the decision was issued in absentia against the former minister From the “April 2” protests (above) Gramoz Ruçi On page 9

Yesterday in court, Xheka and Hajdari submitted their final evidence The ruling will put an end to the controversy over the throne Xheka Hajdari Zefi: “Xheka no longer has a trade union. Its members have not paid dues for three years, and consequently BSPSh has ceased to exist” TIRANA - Today the court will decide who will occupy the chair at BSPSh. Yesterday, at the penultimate hearing, Hajdari and Xheka’s representative submitted their final evidence to the court, which they claim will give them the right to “ownership” of BSPSh. Hajdari claimed that Xheka’s trade unionists had not paid their dues and, consequently, that this trade union could no longer exist. He also presented a list of 4,800 names, which “legitimized” the Durrës conference. On page 3

BERAT - The king died in Berat. No one understood when he had ascended the sovereign’s throne, but at least that is what his fellow townspeople called him: King of the Beggars. For many years, paralyzed in a wheelchair, he lived on the alms of his “subjects,” whose generosity he repaid with music. Around 100 tapes on his cassette player “sang” all day, as if to show that in this world the king needed only merriment and joy. Precisely those things that fate had granted him so sparingly during his life. Luke Shora, 52, died on Tuesday at his brother’s house. Lukja spent almost 30 years in prisons, re-education camps, and the school of vagabonds. A long time ago, while serving a sentence, he had cut the skin on his feet and filled the wounds with sorrel juice, which badly damaged them. As soon as he regained his freedom, both his legs became gangrenous, forcing doctors to amputate them up to the knees, when he was 40 years old. Lukja spent the last 12 years of his life in a wheelchair, never parting with his tape recorder; folk music was his hobby. The king of beggars often drank alcohol and always said he did so to forget his troubles. People of 3 thousand lekë [garbled text] the minimum for him and often those [garbled text] called from the inn of acquaintances. Now the city of Berat has a [garbled text] king or a [garbled text] for everyone.

THE HOSTAGE CASE The Italian’s hostages’ house Now the Italian’s female friend is in handcuffs too On page 9

ITALIAN ROBBERS Police Station No. 3 The extradition of the highly sought-after couple: procedures begin On page 9

SPECIAL The Festival Stage Fest ’96, everything about the song competition On page 11 (Photo: P. Ilo) The Festival Stage (Photo: P. Ilo)

Durrës Port, ships in the roadstead only during the day Blackout at sea, too “The buoys are dark; there is no gas” DURRËS—The auxiliary lights at the Port of Durrës have gone out as well. For some time, the buoys—the beacons that illuminate the channel along which ships must pass to enter the roadstead—have not been working. The cause of the darkness at sea is not the transformer, but the lack of gas used for lighting. All the buoys, placed one after another, form the illuminated channel through which ships that have entered the port to be serviced must pass at night to reach the roadstead. But they have been dark for some time. One of them had even “left” its place, and the waves had washed it up on Currila Beach. It was replaced immediately, but has still not been lit. According to the Hydrology Department of the Navy, which is responsible for this service, the lack of gas is the reason the lights are out. The lack of lighting has meant that ships enter the roadstead only during the day, when lighting is not needed. This measure was taken as a matter of particular urgency to prevent a maritime accident. Yet, while the sea beacons remain unlit, every ship entering the Port of Durrës pays 50 dollars just for this service. Artur Korriku