Sali Berisha signs the resignation; after five years, Albania is without the autocratic leader. Former president: From the Palace of Brigades to Parliament The PD, by merely leaving Parliament, does not execute the decree. The anti-Berisha celebration is also enjoyed by the Progressives of the PDSG, with the delighted, liberated elected officials

BY SKËNDER MINXHOZI The Albanians voted yesterday Berisha against the bitter end, and against abandoning the presidential mandate, instead of leaving with honour from the high office he had held for five years. Albania voted yesterday Berisha against the bitter end, and against abandoning the presidential mandate, instead of leaving with honour from the high office he had held for five years. Only three hours before the Assembly was to give him a broad, unanimous mandate from the right and the centre, Sali Berisha spoke before the media, still radical. "Such is politics, I told you, and I am finishing by taking power in earnest". With the 5% of power that remains in their hands even today, Berisha lingers behind in defeated terms and as president. Three weeks after they have taken to heart, it has not been in vain. During these days much of the character that governed Albania jointly over the years came to light. From today, Berisha will no longer be at the centre of the loud attention that produced his downfall. Yesterday the country parted with him before parliament finally made the necessary change. Only three hours before the Assembly was to give him a broad, unanimous mandate from the right and the centre, Sali Berisha spoke before the media, still radical. "Such is politics, I told you, and I am finishing by taking power in earnest". The unrest seems finally to have yielded only one victory from this move: one man, the 29-year-old Agim Hoxha, will no longer hold the post with what [?]. All this terrible dragging-out for the public and the Albanian political elites has been useless only for this category, says the elected man. On the day of his election as prime minister, there was no honour for him in the hall. The end of Sali Berisha’s rule seems likely to have continuations. It has become clear in these months that an era full of shadows is being brought to a close. The near future will show what this end will bring.

Members of parliament, closed in silence to mark the closure of the victims of recent months

Berisha leaves, the Presidency is looted Just a few minutes after President Berisha signed the resignation, a crowd of people went down the stairs of the Presidency and, with sticks and crowbars, broke through the doors of the government building. This happened at 19:20. On receiving the signals, police forces arrived together with firefighters. Based only on the loud noise of breaking glass and the calm of the square in front of the Presidency, the journalists who were following developments near the Presidency immediately connected it to a warning cry. The newspaper’s sources say that the crowd that entered the building came out after about 29 minutes, having broken some of the furniture and taken various equipment with them. It is learned that the room of the president’s escort was also looted. The group of people who remained until the late hours were continuing, with improvised means, to take items from the building. At 22:50 there was no longer any security force or police around the building. In front of the Presidency, only curious citizens remained.

The staff of the independent newspaper "INDIPENDENT" informs its readers that, for technical reasons, it did not appear on the market yesterday or today. After some changes and restructuring, it will be back in your hands in a few days.