Alarm in hospitals. Victims are in serious condition. The substance is a mystery Carnage from poisoned byrek: 2 dead Food used to deceive: rush to hospital, 14 in comas A gang operates by offering biscuits and sweets. Then people fall into comas and are robbed A mysterious chemical substance causes a comatose state one hour after eating the food, lasting up to three days TIRANA - Robberies using toxic food in Tirana. For several days, a new method of robbing people has been used. Groups of young people and adolescents give various people food prepared with a chemical substance, still mysterious, which immediately causes a comatose state. After that, they rob their victims, taking their money, watches, and even the clothes off their backs. At least 15 people had been taken to hospital by yesterday in serious condition, while two people had died. According to doctors, they had spent the night outside in a coma, without receiving medical assistance. People who fall victim to this remain in this state for up to three days and then “wake up.” The foods so far used with these substances are byrek, pastries, biscuits, and some kinds of fruit. Meanwhile, the forensic medicine laboratory, having taken blood samples from those poisoned, has begun investigations to determine which substance causes this comatose state, which lasts up to three days. On page 5 VICTIM “I fell into a coma after I ate: I don’t remember anything else” “They gave me a byrek WITNESS “A little boy offered me some biscuits” “He pretended to eat them,” The Neurological Hospital in Tirana where the victims have been admitted (Photo: P. Ilo)

General Forlani: “We are ensuring only the aid” The second phase foresees placing under Forlani: “Our interlocutors, those recognized by the government” The landing of the “Alba” troops

VLORA - Armed men attacked on Tuesday evening a van carrying television equipment for satellite transmission. - Armed men attacked on Tuesday evening a van carrying television equipment for satellite transmission. They threatened with guns two English technicians and an Italian [sic] who were on board the vehicle, and then robbed them of about five thousand dollars they had with them. The van was then allowed to continue its journey and was taken under the protection of Italian military troops from the “Alba” mission. Following this incident—the perpetrators are still anonymous—an Italian military escort [sic] accompanied all the television crew members of the Italian television station in the city. The van was stopped on Tuesday evening on the outskirts of the city—by the olive-grove hill—by three armed men wearing gas masks. They signaled for the van to stop and then shot at its front tire. The three foreign technicians, who were transmitting television by satellite, left the vehicle and all the cash they had with them—about five thousand dollars—was stolen, while the equipment alone was left untouched. The Italian commander of the troops stationed in the city confirmed the incident, saying that the journalists had been escorted with increased protection by the Italian troops. Also, the Italian cabinet—in connection with the incident—condemned [it]—[they] pat[?]rolled in the city.

KUKËS - “The spring is on our land and the water is ours. If you want to drink it, then you must pay”! - “The spring is on our land and the water is ours. If you want to drink it, then you must pay”! The ultimatum was issued to an entire city, Kukës, which was forced to go several days with dry taps. Residents of the village where the spring supplying the city’s water system is located have demanded that they privatize it and, in this way, solve this problem and partly their problem of deep poverty. This is right on the edge of an entire city. The ultimatum to cut off the water was enforced for 48 hours, and no one was able to persuade the villagers otherwise. They had taken up positions in front of the drinking-water reservoir and, armed with every kind of weapon, threatened to blow up the reservoir if their demands were not met. All attempts by the local authorities to intervene with the armed residents failed, while the police were powerless to intervene. The ultimatum [unclear] by the residents of Kukës, who have no other way to secure drinking water—all the other sources have been flooded by the lake of the Fierza hydroelectric plant. The villagers themselves, who agreed to unblock the water supply, said that if the demand to privatize the water was not accepted, they would blow up the spring.

Ruli: “We will not accept members of the Party of Labour into leadership” “Farewell, DP, we have our own party” The “Movement for Democracy” is legalized TIRANA - The dissidents have definitively broken with the Democratic Party. The Ministry of Justice has legalized the new party, named the “Movement for Democracy,” whose founding group includes people who held the Democratic Party’s top posts until recently and who, after some experience, formed a definitive dissident faction. The “Movement for Democracy” has declared itself a centre-right party. “Our statute,” says Genc Ruli, “guarantees internal democracy and the proper recognition of factions. Meanwhile, no one who was a member of the PPSH or a collaborator of the Sigurimi will be accepted as a member of the High Governing Council or as party chairman. At the same time,” Ruli explains, “we have decided not to allow those who were ministers during the 1992–1997 period to run for government posts in the next legislature.” The newly formed party will prepare to take part in the elections and will soon organize its structures and forums. On page 3

TIRANA - Dissatisfied with the draft electoral law, the opposition is demanding that it be changed immediately. A flood of objections has come from the offices of its main parties. The parties’ latest views on the electoral law drafted by the Ngjela team resurfaced[?] after a meeting they held yesterday at the PS headquarters. “The draft submitted to the parties has major shortcomings, starting with its electoral system, since it is not purely proportional.” On page 3

TIRANA - “Free elections cannot be held if most of the population is armed.” TIRANA - “Free elections cannot be held if most of the population is armed. If this Government is capable of disarming people before June, then we would agree to that deadline; otherwise, we have proposed September.” Abaz Ermenji, the oldest leader of “Balli Kombëtar,” spoke yesterday to Gazeta, explaining today’s Albanian politics. On page 3

remember anything else” “They gave me a byrek and then they were following behind me” On page 5 One of the patients (P. Ilo)

“He pretended to eat them himself, then took them out of his mouth” eat them himself, then took them out of his mouth” On page 5

From the landing of the “Alba” troops. The second phase foresees bringing all the country's main arteries under control. On page 2. Forlani: “Our interlocutors are those recognized by the government. Under no circumstances will we replace the police”

Vllaznia amid departure problems On page 6

Peru’s hostages released: 72 rescued On page 7