Albania: sixth day of protests in Tirana – Rama rules out resigning
Police again use rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas. 272 people have been injured since Tuesday. Rama asks: 'Do they want this, or do they want the EU?'
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Anti-government protests in the Albanian capital Tirana entered their sixth day on Sunday. Hundreds of people again gathered outside the Ministry of Education chanting "Rama, resign". Police used rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas. Shops in the centre pulled down metal shutters, and city workers removed paving stones so they could not be thrown.
According to the Ministry of Health, 65 people were injured by Sunday morning, including 37 police officers; twelve were taken to hospital. Since Tuesday the ministry has counted 272 injured, including 169 police officers. Police chief Skender Hita had already suspended seven officers on Saturday over allegations of excessive force.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in power since 2013 and serving his fourth term, ruled out resigning. In a live stream he said the government "is not being challenged" and asked: "Do they want this, or do they want the EU?" He blamed a "foreign hand" for the unrest without naming it and offered talks on education costs. Protesters are demanding better education, more jobs and an end to alleged corruption; Albania aims to join the EU by 2030.