Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that an explosive-laden drone targeting the Prime Ministry building was neutralized during the protests, which have now entered their sixth day in the country.
In a statement on his social media account, Rama claimed that a "foreign hand" was involved in the demonstrations and accused Iran of disinformation. The Prime Minister stated, "Two days ago, an explosive-laden drone targeting the Prime Ministry building was neutralized. They planned to hit the building and set the courtyard on fire."
During his statement, Rama held up a paving stone, noting that it was one of the stones removed from the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard to be thrown at police during the protests, and said, "This is a weapon that could effectively be lethal."
Arguing that the protests were not targeting only him or his government, Rama stated, "The target is not me, nor is it the government. It is Albania's accession to the EU in 2030." The Prime Minister said that the state would not bow to violence but that they were ready for any kind of dialogue to resolve the situation.
Rama's remarks came after RENEA, Albania's special police force that handles counter-terrorism and major crime incidents, was deployed to the Prime Ministry building.
OPPOSITION CALLS FOR RESIGNATION
Sali Berisha, Chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (PD), once again called on Rama to resign. Berisha described the announcement of a drone attack on the Prime Ministry as a "fictional movie" and accused the government of corruption.
In a statement at the party headquarters, Berisha said, "There is only one solution to ensure normalization in this country. Tens of thousands of university and high school students have clearly expressed this while continuing their heroic protests. The solution is this: Rama, resign."
On the sixth day of the protests, demonstrators gathered once again in front of the Ministry of Education. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. As tensions rose, the protesters moved toward the center of Tirana.
The demonstrators, who arrived in front of the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party, attacked the building with stones, banging on the door and breaking windows. Police intervened against the crowd with tear gas.
At the Ministry of Infrastructure building, a fire broke out due to Molotov cocktails thrown by protesters. Fire crews intervened to extinguish the flames at the main entrance and the front of the building. Skanderbeg Square, one of the capital's symbolic landmarks, also largely turned into a center of tension due to the clashes.
The European Commission condemned the violence during the protests in Tirana and other cities. The statement emphasized that the intervention of security forces must be lawful and proportionate, noting that freedom of assembly and expression are rights that must be exercised peacefully. The Commission called on the parties to engage in dialogue.
News Source: 12punto
