Physical violence against two members of the People’s Assembly FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER PERKLI TETA, ANOTHER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, ACCUSED OF «ABUSE OF OFFICE»

. READ ON PAGE 5: INTERVIEW WITH MR. ARBEN IMAMI

- Socialist demonstration with chants: «Down with dictatorship», «Down with fascism», «Free Fatos Nano», «Hey Sali, you mongrel, we’ll hang you from the rope». Yesterday in Tirana, something happened that perhaps nobody could have imagined. A socialist rally at the end of July brought to mind the days of the gatherings two years ago. One of the speakers opened his address with the words, «Anti-fascist people of Tirana...». After the lawful rally, where thousands of people carrying portraits of Nano and various banners protested against the current government, the streets of New Tirana filled with those same people, who headed toward the Presidency. The law-enforcement guards and special forces, wearing helmets and carrying shields, could not hold back the crowd and the young men, so they were forced to divert the demonstrators toward Tirana’s main boulevard. After demonstrating in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, the large crowd headed toward Skënderbej Square. The first line of police officers at the Lana Bridge was easily broken through, while the second, between the Ministry buildings, was somewhat harder to get past. Meanwhile, numerous police officers and minibuses transporting rapid-response troops wearing bulletproof vests and carrying automatic weapons filled the square. Since the fall of Enver Hoxha’s bust, this was the second time that Tirana’s square had held such a large number of blue uniforms. It seemed as if everything were happening all over again, especially as the women’s chants could be heard: «The police are with us»! Amid the angry crowd, the police began beating and making arrests, filling the minibuses with demonstrators. Asked about this, one of the police officers said the rally was illegal. Among those beaten by the police were a journalist from «24 Orë» and the former director of TV, F. Kumbaro. At around 7:00 p.m., large IFAs filled with rapid-response forces also arrived in the square. After several clashes, the police created an open area by pushing the Socialists toward the fountains, while on the steps of the Palace of Culture a group of 50 people shouted: «Sali Berisha», «Fatos the Thief». At the head of this group stood out the «RD» journalists, Bucpapa, Krasniqi, and Karaj, who had never before had the chance to shout at a PD rally. Only at 8:00 p.m. did they run off, remembering that they had to prepare the report and that their newsroom was not on the steps of the Palace of Culture. How is it possible that after two years the same events are repeating themselves in Albania?! Naturally, if Albania is left in the hands of Kalakula and Blerim Çela, there can never be stability. The PD showed that it does not know how to conduct politics. As we close this report, we recall the words of a friend of ours: «Blerim Çela should be declared a “Hero”. With what he did, he saved Albania by leading the people toward early elections». Although it is still not known for certain whether the President himself wants these early elections. Last night Fatos Nano slept in prison, while Blerim was in a villa in Durrës.

DEPUTIES ARRESTED FOR…