Protesters clashed with police in Albania’s capital for the fourth day Friday as Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed “foreign hands” for mounting unrest.
Media reported that protests also spread to other cities with smaller scale violence and student boycotts of universities, marking a significant escalation in the months of anti-government protests. The Tirana protests started with hundreds of people gathering outside the education ministry chanting “Rama resign! Shopfronts have been smashed and several government buildings attacked, including the finance ministry, during this week’s unrest. There has been months of anti-government protests in the Balkan nation, initially sparked by a controversial resort development linked to US President Donald Trump’s family.
Interior Minister Ervin Demo said Friday that 156 people had been injured, including 97 police, in recent days.
“The government’s indifference and arrogance since the beginning of our movement have been unbearable and made the situation worse,” said the high school student, who asked to be identified only by her first name. Protesters attempted to force their way into government offices on the capital’s main boulevard on Friday, according to AFP journalists.
