3 Men Shot Dead in Protester-Police Clashes in Albania

Protesters clash with riot police during a protest in front of Government building in Tirana, Albania. EPA/BGNES

Тhree men were killed by gun fire and dozens were wounded in clashes between opposition protesters and police in Albania's capital Tirana.

At least 20 000 supporters of the Albanian Socialist Party rallied in Tirana Friday to protest corruption in the rightist government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, demanding its resignation.

A smaller group of the protesters is reported to have initiated the violence.

In addition to the three men, who were killed in shootouts, a total of 22 civilians and 17 police and military officers were wounded in the clashes, BGNES reported citing sources from the military hospital in Tirana.

The riot police has responded by using teargas and water to scatter the crowd. The Socialist Party-led opposition has called for early elections as Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta resigned on Friday after he was charged with corruption.

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