The opposition warns of the harshest response to defend the constitutional order. PD: “The order to freeze investigations is dictatorship”

The Interior Minister does not obey the order to go over the protesters His replacement is expected with a “strong hand of democratic Albania”! ? Last night Nano was informed that Tahiri and Shulaku had refused to carry out his street order, considering the use of force against citizens unacceptable. After that, according to sources close to the government, there was talk of severe administrative and political measures against them. In government circles, there is talk of new changes at the top of the Ministry of the Interior. The name of a person known for harshness toward the opposition has been mentioned as a possible replacement. This is expected to bring new tension to the capital, especially on the eve of the announced protests. Full article on page 4.

Ambassador Daan Everts at the PD session: “We did not interfere with what we did for the six” The chairman of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, yesterday linked the interest that we international activists, including the mission of the OSCE Ambassador in Tirana Daan Everts, have in Albanian justice with the unusual zeal to personally and heavy-handedly monitor the political trials currently taking place in our country, especially the judicial proceedings against the leader of the opposition, the chairman of the Socialist Party, and other high-ranking figures of the criminal left wing facing justice. At the meeting of the PD Parliamentary Group, where Mr. Everts was taking part as an observer, Berisha compared the two ways of handling the legal proceedings, one against the opposition leader and the other against Nano. Berisha recalled that Albanian judges were unable even to remove the powder residue from the hands of the terrorist perpetrators who killed five students on 21 January 1994, while today prosecutors and judges are zealously pursuing the leaders of the PD. “For this situation we are against political trials and we want a judicial system that is independent and not used as a political tool,” Berisha said. He emphasized that the OSCE is showing readiness to monitor Nano’s trial, while setting aside the fact that other trials are far more important for democratic processes in Albania. The discussion said that monitoring the proceedings against Nano should not serve as pressure on Albanian institutions, nor should it create the impression that particular proceedings are politically protected by foreigners. Concern was also expressed among opposition deputies that a climate of double standards is being created for Albanian justice.

The house of the Lushnjë deputy Bano is blown up, and the city where the extraordinary activity was to take place is also threatened SPECIAL ON PAGE 4

Kurbin, over 50 minutes of battle between blue uniforms and unknown persons On the evening between the 19th and 20th, a group of unknown persons fired automatic weapons at the building of the police station in Laç. According to sources, the bursts of automatic fire lasted for about 50 minutes, creating panic in the area. Many police forces and reinforcements from neighboring districts arrived at the scene. No victims are reported, but the building suffered significant damage. The police have begun investigations to identify the perpetrators and the motives of the attack. L.M.

Thousands of Albanians demanded the removal of Fatos Nano ON PAGE 3

Berisha holds talks with the Swiss parliamentary delegation ON PAGE 3

Everyone together to defend freedom “Join for Democracy,” calls all of Albania and especially its capital, which awaits at 6:00 p.m. in Skanderbeg Square all those Albanians who are convinced and determined to respond to the politics [?] of the top leadership of Power born of the coup, which stops at nothing in its effort to destroy pluralism and the democratic state.