Intervention by special forces arriving from Korçë. Torrential rain all night Police officers at gunpoint Gunfire at the Devoll police station The head of Criminal Investigation against the head of Public Order. 60 people block the road DEVOLL - The Criminal Police threatened the Devoll police station and, in an armed revolt, demanded the removal of chief Agron Brace. Thus the Shkodër protest is repeated, but this time in the country's extreme southeast. A dispute between Brace and the head of Criminal Investigation, Lorenc Shpuza, led around sixty supporters of Shpuza to block the Korçë-Bilisht road and fire towards the police station. A scandalous incident began in the early hours of Tuesday morning. According to information from inside the Devoll police station, Brace argued with Shpuza over a work matter; at that moment the latter's driver pulled out a pistol and threatened the station chief. A police officer on duty intervened immediately, disarming the chief's pistol. Hours of anxiety and tension in the extreme southeast. Following a disagreement between the Police Station Chief and the head of Criminal Police, Kalashnikov fire erupted. Around 60 supporters of the head of Criminal Police tried to enter the station; after being pushed back by the police, they blocked the national highway and demanded the resignation of Devoll's police chief. On page 6 Naro: Our fate is entirely in our own hands. On page 2

Regarding links with SHIK TIRANË - Ngjela casts a shadow of suspicion over the Presidency. “Soon, a group from the commission will go to the Presidency to verify some information we have from the materials at our disposal,” the well-known lawyer said yesterday. According to him, the large dossier, which contains facts from three dictatorships, has revealed connections with the Presidency, a fact that will be verified by the commission members. On page 5

TERROR IN ELBASAN War in the city center: Four dead Gunfire in a settling of scores. Hours of anxiety and fear at midday On page 8

PD response: We are not giving the orders Harsh accusations between rival parties over Tuesday's protest TIRANË - “PD and Berisha are provoking the revolt of the people of Vlorë against the SP.” The head of the Socialist Party yesterday accused the high-ranking structures of the Democratic Party of inciting and promoting support for the eighth platform, specifically by announcing a strike by 40 socialist supporters from Vlorë. The Democrats' response was immediate: “We do not give orders to SP activists.” For the Democrats, the concern of the socialists of ... And socialists of Vlorë goes deeper than criticism of the local leadership. The socialists are calling for an urgent and in-depth analysis of the situation in Vlorë, and Koçi and the other SP leaders will head there without delay. On page 3

“He should have been dismissed”

From Ermenji’s emissaries TIRANA - The dictate of the [??] in the main Balli ranks. Gjergjo and Selfo support each other with great [??] at a press conference. The green light was given by a decision of the National Council, which harshly condemns the removal of actors from political functions for what they declare in opposition to the decisions of this Council. Some Albanian-American Balli members came forward yesterday, saying that they are carrying out this kind of political activity to reconcile the Balli leaders. Yesterday, Gjergjo denied the accusations against his deputy at a press conference, calling them “misinterpretations by the press.” The lowering of tensions has also been influenced by the fact that chairman Ermenji is in Tirana through his emissaries from the diaspora. Ermenji himself is expected to come to [??] at the end of May, when the Congress will be held. The Balli leaders yesterday called for early elections as soon as possible. On page 3

THE PROJECT IN MARCH Carla Fracci, dancing in Tirana The renowned ballerina awaits a visit from the Ministry TIRANA - Another step forward toward bringing Fracci to Tirana. A fax sent by the famous ballerina and her husband, Menegatti, has arrived at the offices of the Ministry of Culture. According to the [??], the world’s leading dancer is asking for approval of a request to give a performance-spectacle in Tirana during the period 21–30 March. “The Ministry of Culture has expressed its strong willingness to bring this project to full realization.” “Considering that this is an event of historical importance for Albania, they promise to help the project,” stated Illaz Xherahu, who is also the intermediary for arranging this performance in Tirana. Such an idea, proposed two years ago with Fracci, may come to fruition. All the arrangements on the part of Fracci and Menegatti, who is also her manager and husband, have been made; all that remains is its official approval by the Albanian authorities. However, the Ministry believes the request should come from the Italian Ministry of Culture. According to Gjergj Peci, the minister’s chief of staff, this is a normal procedure that must be followed. Meanwhile, on the other hand, it is thought that the request should come from Tirana. A vicious circle which, for the moment, seems to have brought the project to a standstill, but which, according to Xherahu, can be resolved given the goodwill of both sides. And of course it must be resolved. Fracci’s arrival in Albania is a historic event of enormous proportions. Her concert itself is expected to be extraordinary for ballet enthusiasts. At the age of 61, Fracci’s appearance on stage is a historic event throughout the world. It is enough to mention the fact that she will perform only once a year, and this appearance is eagerly awaited by everyone. The performance is thought to include a recital featuring some of the world’s finest classical numbers, followed later by a ballet inspired by Kaderase’s book “Who Brought Dumnina.” Everything, starting with the stage design, choreography and direction, will be entrusted to her team, led by Menegatti.

“He should have been dismissed” TIRANA - Brojka has strong support in the government. Tirana Prefect Makbule Çeço reacted sharply yesterday to Mayor Brojka. “To be or not to be.” That is the dilemma being raised for discussion regarding the fate of the mayor of Albania’s largest municipality. The Tirana Prefecture reacted yesterday following Mayor Brojka’s attack concerning the appointment of civil registry employees by this body. “Brojka continues to be [??] and indulged,” says the prefect, Makbule Çeço. “The fact that the highest authorities should have dismissed Brojka from office, but did not complete the procedures for reasons known to them, cannot absolve Brojka of his sins and gives him no right whatsoever to present himself in the role of the Capital’s Council.” This is what the spokesperson for the Tirana prefect said in a harsh statement. It was initially a complaint about Brojka’s violation of the law on the official appointment of deputies that began the war of mutual accusations between the Municipality and the Prefecture. The Tirana Prefecture reported Brojka’s violation of the law to the competent authorities, which was followed by a storm in the press over the expected possible dismissal of the Mayor. There was also a stern statement by Deputy Prime Minister Fino, and [??] thought that Brojka’s term at the seat of the country’s largest municipality had come to an end. Then everything was shrouded in silence, until Brojka’s latest counterattack, in which a few days ago he accused the Prefecture of violating a law by appointing several state civil registry employees to the Municipality. so. sha.

POLITICS On page 3

ENTERTAINMENT On page 4

Tender announcement NATIONAL LIBRARY The National Library announces a tender for printing the bibliography “ALBANICA” (special edition). Interested parties should come to collect the relevant information from the Secretariat of the National Library by 23/2/1998 at 12:00, when the winner of the tender will be announced.