Mass Oppposition Protests Shake Albania's Tirana

Edi Rama, Leader of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania address some thousand supporters of Albanian opposition during a protest in front of Albanian Government building in Tirana. Photo by BGNES

Thousands of people have gathered over the weekend in Albania's capital to demand the recount of the ballots from last year's election, BBC reports Sunday.

The rally was organized by the opposition, which claims as many as 200 000 people have attended the demonstrations Friday and Saturday. The Bulgarian news agency, BTA, reports people are still protesting in downtown Tirana, vowing to stay until the government gives, in to their demands.

Tents have been erected on the square where 200 are still gathered including 22 Socialist members of the Parliament, who threaten a hunger strike until the ballots are recounted.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats narrowly won the general election in June 2009 and now hold 75 of parliament's 140 seats. The government says the demands are illegal and sent hundreds of policemen to guard the square where the rally is taking place.

Mayor of Tirana and opposition, Socialist leader, Edi Rama, called on the demonstrators to show "peaceful resistance,” but urges a campaign of disobedience against the government until the demand for a recount is met.

The Socialists are supported by 5 other opposition parties.

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