Tirana: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to resign on Sunday, October 18, as anti government protests entered a sixth day and police used water cannon and tear gas against demonstrators in the capital.
The protests began on Tuesday over poor university conditions, high tuition fees and corruption, before escalating into violent confrontations.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the education ministry at noon on Sunday, chanting demands for Rama’s resignation during a tense standoff with police.
Some protesters set fire to rubbish bins, smashed windows along their route and threw stones and petrol bombs at officers. Windows at the governing Socialist Party’s headquarters were also damaged.
Police deployed water cannon and tear gas to hold back the crowds.
The most severe violence was reported on Saturday, when protesters threw stones, metal objects, petrol bombs and pyrotechnic devices at police.
Cars and rubbish bins were set alight and used as barricades against advancing officers.
In a video address, Rama ruled out stepping down and alleged that an outside force was behind the unrest.
He said the demonstrations threatened Albania’s prospects of joining the European Union (EU) rather than the survival of his government.
The US embassy in Tirana called for restraint and calm on all sides as the confrontations continued.
