RENEA’s super-operation Two armored Saurer trucks and counter-weapons seized Special Forces attack in Vlora Fight with Zani’s gang: three captured, one wounded man escapes Deputy Interior Minister Bare: “We will not leave Vlora until we eradicate crime” VLORA - The Special Forces arrive in the city of protests. For the first time since the depots were opened, the “RENEA” forces have attempted to disarm the gangs. Thirteen vans accompanied by two Saurer trucks—the number of Special Forces personnel has not been disclosed—landed in Flag Square, where they were welcomed by a large number of citizens. The latter hailed them as saviors and presented them with bouquets of flowers. The operation is being led by Deputy Interior Minister Sokol Bare. Yesterday morning, the first shots were heard in the Soda Forest, where, after a fierce fight, three people were detained who, according to Interior Ministry sources, are members of Zani’s gang. Meanwhile, one of them was wounded and got away. The situation in the city was calmer in the afternoon, while the operation is expected to continue in the coming days. The Special Forces have been lodged at the Pioneers’ Camp, while yesterday the Vlora Special Forces battalion was re-established under the command of Daut Brace. On page 5 BREAKING NEWS Zani returns: four hours of fighting in the afternoon VLORA - Fighting between the gangs and the Special Forces. For four hours, forces arriving from Tirana withstood pressure from the weapons of Zani’s gang. The battle began yesterday afternoon. Zani returned to avenge his comrades captured in the morning. The casualty figures have not yet been established, and unofficial sources in Vlora also speak of other wounded people. Two Saurer trucks, improvised as armored vehicles, fired at the Special Forces for a long time. The latter remained in defensive positions and only after four hours of fighting managed to emerge from the trenches and launch an offensive operation. Zani’s gang initially withdrew, leaving in the hands of “RENEA” two Saurer trucks filled with weapons, as well as two other cars which, according to information received from Vlora police, contained anti-armor weapons. Some of the Special Forces officers tried to continue the operation, but it was called off. Fear that bullets might hit innocent people forced them to stop it and resume the following day. Meanwhile, patrols continued in the city, and the three people arrested were sent to Tirana. This was the latest news to reach the newspaper’s editorial office from Vlora last night.

PASHK TUSHA: THIS IS HOW THE INCIDENT WAS AVERTED A match that nearly turned bloody Broken windows, insults... police intervene TIRANA - It was an ordinary Sunday, when those who had not gone to the beach headed to “Qemal Stafa” to watch the national championship final. But the disappointment was great. Those present witnessed an incident that became widespread and then spilled over into the football match. Had the incident not been brought under control in time by the law-enforcement forces, it could have turned into open conflict. It all happened after Sunday’s championship-title match. Large police forces prevented a conflict that could have escalated to the utmost, while Hotel Arbëria, which was supposed to be a peaceful refuge for the players, remained under surveillance all night. The capital’s Police Director, Pashk Tusha, blames the match referee and the heads of the FSFJ for causing the incident, while praising the Vlora team’s conduct in its dealings with the law-enforcement forces. “We prevented a conflict whose outcome no one could have known; Minister Ceka himself and the Secretary of State were kept informed of events at every moment,” Tusha told the Albanian Gazette yesterday. A penalty not awarded to the people of Vlora, and chaos broke out on the field. A group of Vlora supporters, encouraged also by the players, who had gone down on the field a few minutes earlier, began to protest vehemently. They started leaving the central stands when the referee signaled the end of the match. Some of them were violent, and the result was panic and disorder. At that moment, Police Director Pashk Tusha arrived in the square in front of the stadium, accompanied by Secretary of State Ndre Legisi. “As soon as I arrived, I saw the police putting people into vans. I saw bloodied people, who were only surrounded in the blockade ...”[?] ... The article image includes text beneath the photograph: The people of Vlora protest together with the fans ... whereas there were only four bloodied people to be ... taken to hospital, while the others they let go. We watched the road toward Hotel Arbëria, but we saw Parliament an intermediary from a group of 100–150 fans with flags. There were three vans and my car. I radioed for the others to come, while The people of Vlora protest together with the fans ... there are dozens of people occupied only four bloodied people to ... take others to come, while ... [column text cut off at the bottom of the image]

The National Council removes the first names TIRANA - The DP has expelled Shehu and Meksi from the congress group. The National Council decided yesterday that the two prominent figures would no longer be on the political stage that will lead the DP until the grand Convention. Yesterday’s meeting of the Democrats lasted more than an hour and, at its conclusion, they also drafted several resolutions. The Council also decided yesterday who would lead the DP parliamentary group. They are Pollo and Gjanaj. On page 3 Berisha and Pollo during the meeting

Italian is the most favored language, but they also speak Vlach TIRANA - Economics is the profession of the Albanian Parliament. There are 20 members of parliament whose primary profession is economist. They are followed by engineers; the economist MPs appear to have a slight lead over their colleagues who are engineers by profession. The latter number 12. Meanwhile, there are only 6 professional lawyers, and the same number of doctors. Only four members of parliament graduated in fine arts. On page 2 The Parliament chamber

Protest

TIRANA - Protest by the Journalists’ Association of Albania. In a statement, the association denounces an incident that occurred on the Lushnjë-Berat road. On Sunday, a group of armed people, after threatening the driver of an “Albania Press” vehicle and burning all the newspapers it was carrying, then tried to pass through with a newspaper against Fatos Nano. In response to this incident, the Association calls on the authorities to intervene to resolve the problem of the press being prevented from circulating. The burning of the “Albania Press” vehicle demonstrates, according to the Journalists’ Association, the political nature of these actions.

Road collapse two years ago hindered firefighters KRUJË - Fire at the Clock Tower. The monument, built in the 11th century, fell victim to the red tongues of flame on Sunday. The fire started at around 18:50, at which point fire engines arrived immediately, but problems began here. The road leading to the Tower has been collapsed for two years, preventing the vehicles from getting through. The fire hose was 300 meters long and could not reach the Tower. Firefighters from Tirana were called for assistance, but by the time they arrived in Krujë, the fire had continued to consume the objects inside. The two vehicles that came from Tirana joined their hoses, creating a length of 1,000 meters, which was needed to get water to the Tower. The battle against the flames continued for two hours and ended successfully, but when people went inside the building, they saw nothing but rubble and ashes. Meanwhile, many curious onlookers watched for hours as the Clock Tower suffered this fate. Built in the 11th century, it acquired the name “Sahat” after a clock was installed there in the 17th century. The bell tower? [???] built in the 11th century, it was [restored?] in 1981. Fire Chief Merlika stresses that such structures must certainly be designated as sites of special importance in order to prevent the wave of destruction. In his view, the cause should be considered along two lines: deliberate action, but also negligence. Mur at Haruçi