How We Present the News
WORLD NEWS
Positive Trends
Success Stories
Flops
Agriculture
Business
Culture
Education
Government
Health
Science
World Peace
News by
Country
Maharishi in the World Today
Excellence in Action
Consciousness Based Education
Ideal Society
Index
Invincible World
Action for
Achievement
Announcements
WATCH LIVE
Maharishi® Channel
Maharishi TV
Maharishi Darshan Hindi Press Conferences
Maharishi's Press Conferences and Great Global Events
ULTIMATE GIFTS
Maharishi's
Programmes
Maharishi's
Courses
Maharishi's
Publications
Scintillating
Intelligence
Worldwide Links
Transcendental
Meditation
RESEARCH
Album of Events
Celebration
Calendars
Musicmall ♬
Search
|
New anti-government protests in Albania
by Llazar Semini
The Associated Press Translate This Article
4 February 2011
TIRANA, Albania (AP) - Thousands of Albanians converged on central Tirana on Friday to demand the government step down over corruption allegations, two weeks after a similar anti-government demonstration turned violent and left three people dead.
Protest marches were also being held in another three cities, including the town of Lezha northwest of Tirana, Vlora to the southwest and Korca to the southeast.
The demonstrations come two weeks after three protesters were shot dead in clashes with security forces during anti-government protests in Tirana. Another 150 were injured in the violence.
The opposition Socialists are demanding that conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha hold early elections over allegations of corruption and vote rigging in the previous 2009 general election. But Berisha has refused to resign, accusing the opposition of trying to stage a coup.
The Socialists are seeking 'an Albania that is freed from the escalating corruption,' opposition leader Edi Rama told the AP during the demo, adding that the government had 'transformed itself into a regime that wants to make of Albania something completely different of the European dream.'
Tensions rose sharply last month when the country's deputy prime minister, Ilir Meta, resigned amid allegations he tried to influence a state tender for a hydropower station.
Chanting 'We want Albania without Sali' and carrying banners with slogans such as 'Berisha, thief,' at least 5,000 protesters marched through the center of the capital, but avoided the main government building, outside of which the Jan. 21 riots occurred.
'The only way out is that Berisha should leave. He has plunged the country deep into poverty, unemployment,' said Ruzhdi Hoxha, a middle-aged demonstrator.
Police and opposition figures for the numbers of demonstrators were radically different, with police saying a total of about 9,000 people demonstrated in all four cities, and the opposition Socialists putting the total figure at 100,000.
Police said about 3,000 protesters marched in Tirana, another 3,500 in Vlora, about 2,000 in Korca and up to 600 in Lezha. Socialist Party spokeswoman Armela Ymeraj put the figures at 40,000 in Tirana, 30,000 in Vlora, 20,000 in Korca and 10,000 in Lezha.
All demonstrations were peaceful, and no incidents were reported in any, police said.
The opposition has vowed to hold weekly rallies across the country every Friday.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Global Good News comment:
For Maharishi's Vedic Approach to solving the problems of today's news, please visit: http://maharishi-programmes.globalgoodnews.com
For the good news about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York
Translation software is not perfect; however if you would like to try it, you can translate this page using:
|
|