RESTORING ORDER / Two of Kulla’s closest associates caught Tirana’s notorious man escapes police attack Yesterday the anti-crime storm began in Tirana too. Checks and ambushes targeting the most-wanted men TIRANË - Nehat Kulla is at war with the police. A frightening exchange of gunfire took place in the early hours of yesterday, and the man highly sought by law-enforcement forces escaped the encirclement. But two other people accompanying Kulla, protagonists in the armed clash, were arrested after being caught by the police. The crime car, driven by the super-wanted man alone, sped away at breakneck speed in an unknown direction. No one from the blue-uniformed ranks of Police Station 4 was wounded, while the investigation report lists an automatic rifle and two pistols as having been seized. These are weapons which have now been proven to have been fired at law-enforcement officers. The entire Tirana police force was put on alert by the unusual incident. “All measures have been taken to apprehend Nehat Kulla,” Pashk Tusha, Director of the Tirana Police, told Gazeta. Immediate investigations into the nighttime incident have begun, while plans to capture Kulla are being drawn up in the police chief’s offices. The police are now on alert for another super-wanted man. After Zani Çausi in Vlorë, Nehat Kulla is the man whose “life” with the police is marked by the terrifying cracks of a Kalashnikov. It all happened by chance. A car, whose make alone has so far been verified, sped past a police roadblock in Kamëz at around 04:00 on Friday. The officer on duty at the roadblock signaled it to stop, but the car did not stop. The Vora police were immediately notified and, in cooperation with forces from Police Station 4, a strong roadblock was set up near the workplace. “Several police cars had blocked almost more than half the road,” Tusha said of the incident. It was not long before the unidentified car approached at high speed. As soon as they were [unclear] in the car, according to Tusha, they pointed automatic weapons at the law-enforcement forces. The response was immediate. Kalashnikovs fired in bursts from both sides. “The forces of Police Station 4 did an excellent job, managing to catch two of those who were shooting,” Pashk Tusha said. It all happened after the car was surrounded from the sides, an operation which, according to a police officer who witnessed it, was helped by the darkness of night. At that moment, while the captured men were outside the doors, positioned and armed, Kulla swiftly turned the car around and escaped. Police information says the arrested men are Feriz Kërmaja, 31, from Tropoja, an escaped prisoner serving a 25-year sentence for murder. The other is named Shkëlqim Gjuz, 28, employed as a driver for the Ministry of Defense’s Communications Battalion. After they were captured, an automatic rifle, a “TT” pistol and a “Makarov” were found at the scene. “Tests were carried out on the seized weapons, and the results showed that they were the ones fired at the police,” Tusha said. The investigation continued intensively yesterday. The two detainees were questioned and again confirmed Kulla’s presence at the incident. Colonel Pashk Tusha said yesterday that special plans would be made to apprehend Kulla, one of the people most wanted by Albanian justice. Nehat Kulla has been accused of murdering the two Neziri brothers, police officers at Station 1. He is also accused of other criminal offenses. The highly wanted man escaped police cordons several times last year, but was eventually caught during a large-scale operation on “Siri Kodra” street in Tirana. He was held in the cells of Unit 313 and later in Burrel prison, from which he escaped during the March unrest.

TIRANË - The head of the [unclear] complete disarmament. A major operation to collect the live ammunition stolen during the unrest. TIRANË - The head of the [unclear] complete disarmament. A major operation to collect the live ammunition stolen during the unrest of March. This time the main protagonists will be the citizens of Tirana themselves. Pashk Tusha, Tirana’s chief of police, yesterday called on the people of the capital to hand over their weapons to the police in the coming days. The statistics speak of 41 dead and 113 wounded and maimed. And these figures are only from stray bullets and weapons inside homes. The tragedy of the “Kalashnikov” has also caused 35 police officers to be wounded, in addition to the robbery and execution of 24 others. “Those weapons taken for self-defense in March, but which you now see are unnecessary in your homes and dangerous to your children’s lives, hand them over as soon as possible for your own good and for the good of the state,” Tusha writes in his appeal. He addresses the citizens, the Municipal Council, neighborhood elders, political party leaders, intellectuals, journalists, members of parliament, as well as the residents of Bathore and the surrounding area. “I ask,”

VLORE - Special Forces disarm Skela. A whole arsenal of weapons has fallen into their hands. - Special Forces disarm Skela. A whole arsenal of weapons has fallen into their hands. Six people have been detained, among them and

The parties in government were absent: We have no reason to come TIRANË - The PD comes to the table with only its own people. In fact, after the talks, the seven leaders of the political parties reached the conclusion that Albania needs national reconciliation

TIRANË - Goodbye to long waits on the Durrës road. Goodbye to lines of cars near Shijak. It seems everything has been resolved, at least on paper. To get to the beach from Tirana, you can travel only via Vorë—that is, Zogu i Zi-Vorë-Shkozet-Durrës-Beach—while to return to the capital you must go via Plepa-Ndroq-Kombinat-Tirana. The Ministry of the Interior has issued a decision according to which, on Sundays, specifically 17, 24 and 31 August, the Tirana-Durrës road will operate one-way, meaning there will be no crossing traffic. The Ministry’s notice says that, given the heavy flow of vehicles traveling to the beach throughout the day on holidays, this one-way arrangement is necessary. Not long ago, especially on days off, the many beachgoers had to wait in the scorching August sun for up to an hour because of the long line of cars. Some even walked on foot to escape the tedium while waiting for the road to clear. The greatest difficulties were observed especially at the entrance to Shijak, where the road also narrows considerably. It is precisely to avoid these problems that the Ministry of the Interior has taken this measure. All necessary measures have been taken to implement the Ministry’s order, and the police stations will patrol all the key points along this road.

VLORË - Special Forces disarm Skela. VLORË - them Agron Saliu, who was wounded on the first day of the attack on Coles. Minister Ceka has declared: “Zani is not in Vlorë,” but the special forces do not rule out the possibility that he is in the outskirts of the city. “He may not be in Vlorë, but he is definitely nearby; he could not have escaped to Italy.” Yesterday his family members—his mother and two sisters—protested outside the police station offices. A minor incident occurred between them and the chief of police, but it was quickly defused. During the attack on the Skelë neighborhood, there was no resistance, and some residents revealed where the weapons were located. The group’s leaders were not found, but the possibility that they are hiding somewhere nearby has not been ruled out. On page 5 [Column continues:] [?] your weapons, [unclear] ... [?] for your help and understanding,” Tusha says in the letter, expressing optimism in response. The people. According to Tusha, the aim of this extensive campaign will be to normalize life and public order, ensure property security, etc. The appeal to the residents of the Bathore area is especially noteworthy. “Good day, people of Kukës, Pukë and wherever you may be. As your fellow villager, I address you in particular, asking you to be the first to hand in your weapons, which reflect our customs, respect for one another, our honesty and our culture.” Tusha goes on to write that, for this area, the Minister of the Interior has added another 25 police officers to strengthen public order. According to the police director, everyone must contribute to handing in weapons, especially heavy ones, which pose a greater danger to the population. “This is a difficult mission,” Tusha says, but adds that it is entirely achievable.

TIRANA - The DP sits down at the table only with its own. During the two hours of talks, the seven leaders of the political parties concluded that Albania needs national reconciliation and that round tables are the only means for this process. According to Berisha and the other leaders in the talks, no political force, acting alone or in a group, can find a way out of the crisis without national reconciliation. Another invitation will be sent to the SP for Friday. On page 2 “Round table...” — “For…” Caricature by Mehdi Belortaja

“A table parallel to parliament is an attempt to return to the past.” Nano explains his party’s absence from the table called by the DP, and at midday. Regarding approval of the constitution, Nano rules out the possibility of a constituent assembly. “Approval by Parliament, and then a referendum” is his party’s plan. In response to the DP’s statement about a motion of no confidence against the Minister of the Interior, the Prime Minister says he will respond with two-thirds of the votes in parliament. On page 2 Fatos Nano

POLICE ON ALERT Gjinushi’s car collides in Lushnje A maneuvering error caused it to collide with the escort car TIRANA - Skënder Gjinushi narrowly avoided an accident. A not very forceful collision with one of the escort cars forced the parliamentary speaker to change vehicles. Police stations in Lushnje and Fier went on alert, but when the police cars arrived at the scene, they realized it was just an ordinary accident. It all happened during yesterday’s journey south. It is confirmed that there was only minor damage to the car, while nothing happened to Gjinushi or the people accompanying him. They set off in the morning for the south of the country, specifically for Saranda. Skënder Gjinushi and his escort did not stop at any station until Lushnje, where stopping became necessary. It seems that the familiar overtaking manoeuvres by escorts in such cases caused the accident. At the end of the Lushnje ring road, one of the escort cars took its turn to overtake, but a shortcoming in the driver’s maneuvering caused it to collide with Gjinushi’s car. They all stopped immediately, but nothing happened to the people in the car. The escort decided to change Gjinushi’s car. It is reported that he continued from Lushnje in another car. Police forces from both cities arrived immediately, but the great alarm subsided when it became clear that there had only been an ordinary collision. Gjinushi said very little, but decided to continue towards his original destination, Saranda.