Over 20,000 people protested January 21 in the Albanian capital Tirana against the right-wing government of Sali Berisha (Democratic Party, PD). Police responded with extreme violence against the demonstrators; three people died and dozens were injured.
Several hundred demonstrators tried to storm the government building. Police used water cannon and tear gas, also firing live ammunition over the heads of the demonstrators. Cars were set ablaze in front of the so-called “pyramid”, the building adjacent to Berisha’s government office. Three people were consequently shot dead by riot police. Throughout the night, police officers and members of the National Guard roamed the streets of the capital beating up students and oppositionists.
The immediate cause of the protests was a report on the popular TV station Top Channel. The film report showed the Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Ilir Meta (PD) in secretly taped talks, openly negotiating the level of bribes to back the construction of a new hydroelectric power station.
...The entire political establishment, including the PD, the Socialist Party and the European Union is terrified that the protests could spread beyond Albania’s borders to its highly politically unstable neighbours in the Balkans.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/jan2011/alba-j27.shtml
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