More than 20 Albanians killed in bombardments in Kosovo villages Kosovo drenched in blood war now at the doorstep BERISHA “We will not allow Milosheviç to take even a single inch of Albanian territory. We are one nation, and for our homeland we set aside party positions.” On page 2 NANO “We are not afraid of Milosheviç. But we assure him that we will stand alongside our brothers in Kosovo and that we will not allow anyone to play with the fate of our nation.” On page 2 ROBIN KUK “I wished [to speak] in the talks with Milosheviç. I am leaving Belgrade with my greatest concern. Urgent intervention by the Contact Group is now expected.” On page 2 BROKAJ “The army is on alert in the north and south. We are ready, we guarantee that we are ready. [Unclear] surprise, and all our structures are on their feet.” On page 2 TIRANA - Kosovo is being engulfed by war. Yesterday Belgrade sent its military machine towards Drenica and the surrounding villages. Preliminary reports say that at least 20 Albanians have so far been killed, while only two Serbian policemen have been killed, and many women, children and elderly people have been forced to flee towards other villages far from Drenica. Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister Robin Cook left Belgrade pessimistic after his meetings with President Milosheviç. “He made no concessions on any of the disputed issues,” Cook said after leaving Belgrade. But yesterday Rugova also spoke at length with Cook, and it is not known what they agreed on. Yesterday in Pristina (Photo: REUTERS)

Following the accusation by “Deloitte & Touche” Vehbi Alimuçaj arrested Court rules on the pyramid-scheme boss. He obstructed the work of the foreign administrators TIRANA - Vehbi Alimuçaj has been arrested. Albanian justice [the source text says “Martin Deda”] accepted prosecutor Brahim Lahi’s request, ordering house arrest for the president of “Vefa Holding” on charges of “obstructing the activities of the foreign administrators” “Deloitte & Touche”. In the morning, Alimuçaj was questioned, and was later notified that he had been formally charged; he signed the document. After three days of investigations, the Prosecutor’s Office decided to refer Alimuçaj to court, thereby clearing the way for the investigation. The “Vefa” boss has challenged the decision before the Court of Appeal.

Sports Play with us and win: Here are the predictions of the betting experts Albanian championship: Elbasani punished; the pitch suspended for two weeks, the assistant coach for 30 days, the masseur permanently On pages 10–11

Interview BRINDISI - “Curse you, Italy; I would rather have died at sea with my fiancé.” This is the refrain of Manjola Ahmeti, the young woman from Durrës who, years ago, [unclear] with her fiancé. On page 2

DURRËS - Anti-clandestine operation on the Albanian coast. Our border guards, together with their Italian counterparts, are mobilizing to stem the flow of speedboats heading for Italy. Dozens of inflatable boats have been prevented from setting off, but there has been no confirmation that any have been seized. After every tragedy, anti-clandestine operations are now well known, but the flow continues to increase. In Durrës, the alarm was raised [unclear]; the shortage of equipment and personnel at the border makes it impossible to stop them. The operation took place in Golem and Lushnje, another departure point for speedboats bound for Italy. On page 2

TIRANA / HOSPITALIZED On page 7

VLORA / POLICE On page 7

TIRANA On page 9

Prosecutors bring charges: They were protagonists in the events Pollo and Vejsiu waive their immunity “We are ready to be investigated over Ura Vajgurore” TIRANA - The PD MPs Genc Pollo and Illy Vejsiu are also implicated in the tragedy at Ura Vajgurore. Together with Azem Hajdari, they will be formally investigated and called to account for what happened in the small town on June 17 last year. Sokol Kociu, head of the Kuçovë police station, as well as [unclear: one person who was taking over from him in this case], tells Gazeta Shqiptare that in the PD’s [unclear] they are identified as protagonists in the tragic events.

TIRANA - The five companies administered by “Deloitte & Touche” are not only pyramid schemes in their own right, but are also involved in criminal activity. Prime Minister Fino’s office and Finance Minister Malaj did not hesitate to describe the companies VEFA, Kamberi, Silva, Cenaj and M. Leka in Parliament as pure pyramid schemes. On page 6

TIRANA - The killer of a teacher in Pukë has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. The court sentenced the 17-year-old who shot the teacher to [unclear: a twenty-year term?], simply because the teacher had not let him enter the school. Initially, the defendant was charged with [unclear] and faced life imprisonment. Justice has delivered its verdict in the killing of the 24-year-old teacher. The case concerning the incident that took place in October of the previous year was closed by the court yesterday. On the charge of murder [unclear phrase concerning the victim’s special status], two young men from the village of Aprip e Gurës in Pukë sat in the dock. The two young men entered the village’s six-year school, disrupting the lesson. The 24-year-old teacher, who came from the same village as the two defendants, tried to remove them from the classroom. At that moment, between

Initially charged with murder of a victim with special status, an offense covering crimes committed against MPs and police officers, the two defendants risked the death penalty or life imprisonment. The prosecutors had classified the teacher’s killing while he was at work as a serious crime under this paragraph of the law. But at later hearings, the prosecution representative changed his position. Hyseni was charged with the premeditated murder of the teacher, while his friend faced only the charge of failing to report the crime. The March amnesty granted by former President Berisha overturned his guilt in this case. Meanwhile, yesterday the court sentenced Hyseni to five years. Judge Azan Zeneli decided to sentence the young man who killed the teacher to 17 years in prison. Erjon Tase