3 police officers and 4 civilians massacred. The state kills the three criminals. In Vlorë, Zani’s “Llerka” is eliminated Jonada Dervishi, the latest victim of yesterday’s tragedy. Doctors at the Military Hospital amputated ten centimeters of her leg to save her. On page 9. Photo: Hektor Pustina

EDITORIAL Bledar Zaganjori Three criminals were massacred yesterday in the villages of Berat by the rapid intervention forces, but only after they had already killed three police officers and four civilians. And just a few kilometers farther south, in Vlorë, the police once again surrounded the Çole neighborhood, a year and a half after Zani’s capture; there, another man wanted by the police, nicknamed Llerka, was later killed. Recent events in the country have claimed 11 victims in a single day. And everything becomes even more grave when among the dead are 3 police officers and 4 civilians. The former may have been on duty, patrolling the national road, when they were shot by three irresponsible beasts who had just killed other people after robbing them. The killing of police officers, quite apart from the background of a horrific event, in any case becomes the subject of broad debate in all the cabinets, where an ordinary person immediately thinks of the simplest thing: the criminal must be punished, and in this case, with death. But Europe does not allow us to impose the death penalty, and yesterday it sent its latest signal. Secondly, everyone needs to feel the state’s presence, and until now that presence has been lacking. But yesterday, despite the casualties, it became clear that the state knows what to do and began to act. The killing of the three police officers was avenged just a few hours later with the criminals’ slaughter by special forces. Yesterday, the police showed that they are capable of catching criminals in record time, without letting them escape in an “unknown direction.” And those who were killed were not leading peaceful lives either; they were doing what everyone expects whenever we want law and order: patrolling the national road. On the other hand, the law-enforcement operation in Vlorë showed that even a highly wanted and dangerous man cannot hide for long and terrorize the people of Vlorë in the city center. And the police showed that nobody can be considered untouchable, even a criminal with a long “career” and a national “reputation.” After all, yesterday showed that having the death penalty written into the Constitution is not enough to establish order if crime is not eliminated in the act. And what has long been awaited has begun: the long battle against crime, though sadly with victims.

IN HAS For the first time, Albanian border guards and residents of the village of Letaj responded with gunfire to a volley fired by Serbian forces. The battle, which lasted no more than 30 minutes, caused no casualties but marked the first instance of a response by the Albanian side. On page 7

State of alert on the Greek-Albanian border: the arrival of a large shipment of radioactive material from the countries of Southeastern Europe is expected. The crossing points between Albania and Greece have been put on alert following reports that a shipment of radioactive material may pass through... On page 9

Rules 1. Keep this copy of the newspaper with your competition number 2. Game numbers are published every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 3. On Monday, March 8, the third draw on TV KLAN for a trip for 2 people to ITALY and 2 SCHENGEN visas. • More information on the inside pages of the newspaper. I’m giving you ITALY Gazeta Shqiptare Your competition number for today SERIES EF 139918