Special Forces: “He too is hiding in the city; we’ll catch him soon” Italian military ships patrol the coast of Vlora. Napolitano: “Not a single speedboat must get through” CITY GANGS / Members abandon their bosses; only the loyal ones remain Yesterday, during checks by the special forces in Vlora (Photo: REUTERS) On page 5 Yesterday, during checks by the special forces in Vlora (Photo: REUTERS)

The city shaken, 8 hours of fighting, dozens wounded GANG WAR: TWO INNOCENT PEOPLE ALSO KILLED ELBASAN - The gang war has caused a massacre. The toll from the clashes is six dead and 18 wounded. A gang of thirty men attacked a villa ... in the evening, where the two wanted men were staying. The fighting began at 7 p.m. ... and continued until three in the morning. The police stayed away ... from intervening in the armed clash. Meanwhile, six victims were recorded, including two innocent people. Four others belonged to the gang that had surrounded the villa. The fighting lasted eight hours and caused damage in the city. In the morning, traces of weapons could be seen throughout the city. More than half ... wounded? ... while antitank weapons and machine guns were also brought into action. Of those killed, the police took away only one; the others had already been carried off by their companions. The person left in the house was from Vlora and, according to police sources, had been staying in Elbasan for some time. On page 4

TIRANA - Also concerning the Police Director. As a result of the worsening situation in several areas of the country, the Council of Ministers has decided that Shkodra, Vlora, Durrës, Elbasan, Korça, Fier and Berat will be organized according to the Tirana system. In other words, there will be Police Directorates, which will reorganize the Police Stations. “Establishing law and order has been one of the government’s priorities.” Yesterday’s decision by the Council of Ministers is precisely in keeping with this government policy. Under it, Shkodra and Vlora will each have three police stations, while the other districts will have one each. In fact, this is a step by the Government. The idea was put forward two months ago, after an inspection in the districts of Vlora and Fier by Ndre Legisi, the State Secretary for Public Order. Since then, the work there has been organized on the basis of three police stations. But the Government’s decision now goes further. It also extends to other districts, especially those in the South, where the situation is more serious. The level of public security, full control of the territory and the fight against crime have been the reasons for the Albanian Government’s decision. This operation is intended to increase the effectiveness of the fight against “petty” crime. This is precisely the type of crime that also provides the basis for “major” and organized crime.

The Verification Commission also overturned TIRANA - A storm at the army’s General Staff. The Chief of the General Staff, Adem Çopani, has been removed, and Aleks Andoni is expected to take his place. The 45-year-old colonel is expected to lead the Albanian army. As part of the “reform framework,” ... to leave ... years ago ... and ... of the army ... was a doctor of military sciences. The Council of Ministers decided to change the membership of the Figure Verification Commission. Xhafa and Gjata are the new members of the commission, which will be headed by Nazif Bezhani. Ministry of Defense On page 2

Yesterday in Laç, 1,500 cases of “LM” were seized The seized trucks came from Kakavija and were heading toward Shkodra TIRANA - Laç police seized two trucks carrying cigarettes. The trucks were transporting 1,500 cases of LM-brand cigarettes from Gjirokastra to Shkodra. Police Unit 1 confiscated the vehicles because neither had an invoice or documentation. Police operations in support of customs continue. Just a few days ago, ten trucks carrying cigarettes were stopped in Krujë. Anti-smuggling efforts involving tobacco are also affecting cigarette prices on the market. In the wholesale market, LM cigarettes have gone up from 65 to 70 lekë. On page 5

Sardinia, dies in hospital SARDINIA - Albanians are treated like Black people and Jews. In a provincial town in Sardinia, the Italian island far from the mainland, an Albanian has been killed as a result of an attack by a group of Italian racists. On page 6

TIRANA - Blerim Çela has recounted his “blessing” with the socialists. “No one can remove me; I now have a seven-year mandate.” The head of the State Audit Office is convinced that what the DP is doing is more of an offensive against the constitutional institutions than against Blerim Çela as State Auditor General. “I have known this institution for ninety? ... It has been easy for them to dislodge me from the post I hold,” he says, feeling that the DP has let go of his side. Cartoon by Mehdi Belortaja On page 2

TIRANA - Police clash with gang. A battle over ... with police ... and the armed group in Kombinat. One police officer wounded and a branch of the Savings Bank riddled with bullets is the toll of the battle. The robbers ... escaped, managing to evade the police cordon and the subsequent pursuit. In the morning, the prosecutor’s office and judicial police officers began investigating the incident. “It was 01:11 on Friday when an alarm came through to the operations center about branch 28 of the Savings Bank in the Kombinat neighborhood,” Fation Softa, head of the Objects Protection and Security Department, told Gazeta. Immediately after the alarm, the department’s rapid-response unit set off for Kombinat. “The armed group had taken up positions inside and beside the building. They opened fire as soon as they saw our van,” Softa says. The fierce exchange of fire also took place near the bus stop. The robbers, apparently ... 7–8 people, had taken up selected positions and opened fire as soon as the officers in the van set foot on the asphalt. Nevertheless, the rapid-response unit managed to take positions on the asphalt and behind the high curbs. The exchange of fire lasted about 20 minutes. The head of the Objects Department says the situation was difficult; bullets were flying from all sides. “The gang was heavily armed with automatic weapons,” Softa says. Reinforcements from Police Station 2 then arrived at the scene, led by the head of public order, Dashamir Kaja. Just as the gunfire between the two sides seemed to have abated and the situation was calming down, one of the gang members threw a defensive grenade at the police. It exploded in the park, wounding rapid-response unit officer Lumtumi Paloshi. The powerful explosion was followed by a silence, after which it became clear that the gang members had disappeared into the darkness. “They know the area and its roads well. Taking advantage of the darkness and their experience in the area, the robbers managed to escape,” Softa says. The police also managed to catch the attackers of ... residential properties, before ... The other premises, as well as the kiosks near the branch, were riddled with bullets. [?]

The Human Rights group responds TIRANA - Gangs threaten the press. “Local newspaper journalists do not dare to practice their profession,” says a statement by the Albanian Human Rights Group. Newspapers are not distributed throughout the country, the non-governmental organization appeals. “Local journalists are unprotected. They are deprived of the right to practice their profession, and their lives are threatened by sudden attacks from common criminal gangs,” the statement says. The group thus notes that journalists are also targets of armed attacks because of their profession. Any reliable information from the “hot zones” is almost impossible to obtain. It is widely believed that for several months certain groups have been terrorizing people, taking matters into their own hands and exacting revenge. “Any information published in a newspaper may arouse the anger of people who are trying to ‘...’,” the statement says. This is why the Human Rights Group considers the situation serious. “In this dynamic period, the suspension of the Albanian press is not only a shortcoming, but also carries the risk of a professional relapse that could have negative consequences in the future,” it notes. The geographical reach of newspaper distribution is severely restricted. According to the Human Rights Group, the newspapers “Albania” and “Rilindja demokratike” cannot circulate in the south of the country. Meanwhile, “Koha Jonë” has been barred from going to several districts of V-?ri. “It is very serious and important that journalists from Albania and Rilindja demokratike have not been able to reach some southern areas for several months. Their distribution vans have been stopped several times by extremist armed groups,” the statement notes. According to the group, journalists are not blameless either. “These extremist and arbitrary actions by certain groups with a low social level are often also provoked by a lack of journalistic ethics and the use in the press of harsh, revanchist language. In this case, the press not only fails to fulfill its mission as an agency of ... but must also ... call on the authorities to protect the press.” [?]