Questions resurface about the tragic event that shook Cërrik and Tirana: What happened that day? Scandal over the white coats The killing of the guardsmen: Military Prosecutor’s Office opens an investigation Three doctors at the Military Hospital are suspected of “negligent medical treatment.” The doctors respond: We did everything properly Prosecutors have taken into consideration complaints received from the families of the victims of Cërrik Military surgeons respond immediately: These events have nothing to do with us. We only did our duty TIRANË - The white-coat scandal has erupted. At least three doctors at the Military Hospital are being investigated by the Military Prosecutor’s Office for negligent treatment of former members of the Republican Guard. “In addition to the doctors questioned about the incident, three others have also been questioned about the treatment of the wounded and possible accounts,” sources at the Military Prosecutor’s Office say. The doctors think otherwise, and say the accusation is entirely unfounded. “We serve everyone without conditions,” says one of the best-known surgeons at the army hospital. There is still no clear charge against the white coats at the Military Hospital, who treated the six guardsmen wounded in Cërrik in the first days of May. “Negligent medical treatment” is one accusation that prosecutors are considering as a lead for the investigation. However, sources at the prosecution office add that the white coats are also being investigated over alleged bribes mentioned by the families of the wounded during those days. On page 3 Kosovo in turmoil. On page 3

Kosovo in turmoil

LAST NIGHT AT 22:00 GJIROKASTËR - Explosive device at the home of the chairman of the Gjirokastër District. The explosion occurred at 22:02 in the village of Derviçan, where Dako lived. His parents and children were inside the house, while Jani Dako himself was in Tiranë for work. Neighbors saw a car speed away just seconds after the blast was heard. All the windows of the house were broken and the doors were damaged, but no injuries among the family members have been reported. The news was urgently relayed to the police station, and an on-call team was dispatched immediately. It remained there until midnight, so we were unable to obtain further information. This is because the phones do not work in the village where the explosion took place. It is only five kilometers from the city. The motives for the attack remain a mystery. Police sources have refused to provide confirmation regarding the investigative team’s findings. The neighbors also did not know what to say, while the family members were stunned by the sudden explosion. The house was partially damaged, although the type of explosive used has not been determined. Jani Dako was appointed District Chairman following the local elections of 20 October last year. He is a member of PBDNJ. Last night he was in Tiranë at a meeting with Prime Minister Nano.

Specialists avert a mass tragedy

Sarandë, attack shakes the city. TNT also used against the Municipality SARANDË - Anti-tank shell fired at the Sarandë police station. The early hours of Thursday woke the small coastal city with a terrible noise. From the surrounding hills, repeated shots rang out for several minutes. The target was the Sarandë police station, but the attackers’ aim was only to spread terror. According to the city police, the incident took place at 3 a.m., while local residents recall it happening earlier, around 1:00. Nevertheless, the first outlines of the attackers are emerging from the city police station. It appears to have been a gang of 14 ordinary criminals, seeking to demonstrate its strength after three of its members were detained. This concerns an operation by the Sarandë police, following the wounding and robbery a few days earlier of police officer Baftjar Sulo.

Traders: “VAT is to blame”

Specialists avert a mass tragedy TIRANË - Police seize 45 shells containing radioactive material. An extraordinary danger to the population is averted. Specialists from the Ministry of Defense transported the highly dangerous military material to secure storage facilities yesterday at midday. An empty sack contained several old, possibly live shells, but the police managed to avert a tragedy. Yesterday, around 10:30, police forces from Police Station No. 3 managed to seize a sack containing 45 shells, as well as the weapon used to fire them. A search of the Aviation Field led to the discovery of the sack in a roadside bush. As soon as the ammunition was discovered, its danger was assessed. According to specialists, the shells contained radioactive material. Its composition and placement made transportation extremely dangerous. The police took charge of the operation, since even a minor jolt could have caused a tragedy. Specialists from the Ministry of Defense were urgently called and arrived at the scene with the appropriate equipment. After many minutes spent over the “bomb” sack, it was finally possible to lift and transport it safely. The 45 shells were taken to the army’s secure storage facilities. Meanwhile, the police immediately began investigating whether the ammunition had been hidden or whether someone had left it there for the police to collect. An investigation has begun to identify the “owner” of the radioactive sack. Roland Zili

Traders: “VAT is to blame” TIRANA — Diesel and gasoline are “hotter,” following the VAT. Immediately after the new 20 percent rate came into force, fuel prices were adjusted. Private companies have raised prices by an average of 10 lekë per liter, while the amount they pay the state is only 8.7 lekë per liter. State-run outlets have not lagged behind either. The price increase at state outlets is even higher than at private ones. Ballsh diesel, which was sold for 50 lekë per liter before October 1, now costs 66.5 lekë per liter. The order to change the rates came from the Ministry of Energy. While private companies also cite the reinstatement of customs duties as justification for the price increases, the state can say that import taxes from Ballsh to Tirana have risen.

THE PRIME MINISTER AFTER HONG KONG TIRANA — “My statement is being abused. I will not reimburse the money, but will compensate for the money lost in the pyramid schemes,” Nano said at yesterday’s press conference. The donor conference will be held on October 22, and Albania is expected to sign an agreement with the IMF in the coming days. “We are determined to identify all the assets of the rentier companies,” Nano said. The Prime Minister confirmed Prime Minister Nano (P.Ilo)

BUREAUCRATIC BLUNDERS TEPELENË — He thought the term “Shqiptar” could make all his compatriots around the world recognize him. Confident in himself, in the field where nationality is requested, instead of writing “Albanian,” he wrote “Shqiptar.” An employee of the Tepelenë police station thus rendered 500 passports invalid for five citizens for five countries. They were declared invalid, and the people who held them also filled the station premises, protesting angrily. A very simple mistake, perhaps due to ignorance, cost 500 citizens of Tepelenë dearly. The police-station employee thought the word “shqiptar” was known throughout the world and considered it shameful to convert it to “Albanian.” After a long runaround, the station chiefs informed the hall-lehxhinjtë that the money was considered lost and anyone who wanted a valid passport would have to pay again. Fifty of them paid the money a second time, but the adventure did not end there. The police-station employee made another mistake. Confident in himself, he wrote “albanien” for nationality. Just one small mistake meant they were once again declared invalid, while 50 people returned to the queues to demand their money. It is not known who will take responsibility for writing the passports at the Tepelenë police station.