Tirana, dozens of civil and criminal charges against PM Berisha

The Powerful man in Albania, has always defies justice. Only from family opposition leader, Edi Rama, are 13 criminal charges against Berisha

Dozen civil and criminal charges from opposition leader Edi Rama, as well as many VIP businessman, who are "accused by premier Berisha, as the most dangerous mafia of the country", have deposited in the courts of Albania, charges against prime minister.

The charges are the most different to Berisha, but local analysts said that the charismatic leader of the Democratic Party and currently the country's prime minister Sali Berisha, historically, never has been presented to be face prosecution charges.

Albanian courts and prosecutors fear, could not open the criminal process against Berisha also for 1997 and for "Coup d`Etat" in 1998.

If the courts will not act in time and the Prosecution will not to take the first step that Berisha stopped, then finally, justice in Albania, has failed together with the democratic system in Albania, foreign analysts said, for Albanian political crisis.

"Prime Minister Sali Berisha, among others must bring proofs" why he calls the country's opposition as the mostly sophisticated mafia in Europe, said opposition leader Edi Rama, while adding that" Berisha is the first to be charged for using the State by his family, for robbery and property laws in favor of changes to his political clan.

Meanwhile, Albanian politician with influence in the Balkans, Arber Xhaferri, has declared that the political crisis in Albania, can be placed in question the future of the country. "Albania, he says, can currently be classified as a country with democracy failed, which is endangering the sovereignty.

Albanian government moves closer to arresting Berisha

Former president accused of fomenting recent riots

September 17, 1998
Web posted at: 11:39 p.m. EDT (0339 GMT)

TIRANA, Albania (CNN) -- Albania's internal strife intensified Thursday as the government moved closer to arresting former President Sali Berisha on charges of fomenting anti-government riots that have killed seven people and injured more than 70.

A parliamentary commission recommended that Berisha, a member of Parliament, be stripped of his immunity against arrest. The full Parliament is expected to take up the matter Friday.

A defiant Berisha said he welcomed the recommendation.

"Twice I have felt proud of myself -- in 1991 when I saw with my eyes how my people stood up (to communism) and now," said the former president, who called on his supporters to turn out in force Friday for a protest rally that some observers fear could trigger more violence.

Earlier Thursday, Berisha led 3,000 supporters of his Democratic Party through the streets of Tirana in a peaceful march. He and his party have denounced the government of Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano as a communist-style dictatorship.

Nano took over as head of a five-party coalition after voters ousted Berisha in June 1997.

The current crisis was triggered Saturday when Azem Hajdari, a popular Democratic Party politician and close ally of Berisha, was killed.

Berisha blamed Nano's government for the slaying, and on Sunday and Monday, anti-government rioters damaged government offices and briefly took over state television. Government officials accused Berisha of trying to overthrow the government with what amounted to a coup.

While Tirana was calm Thursday, there were reports of violence in the northern town of Lezhe, where about 80 demonstrators attacked a police station late Wednesday night. Three people were reportedly killed.

Europeans appeal for calm

Daan Everts, an official with the Albanian field office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, made an appeal for Albanians to remain calm and urged both Democrats and Socialists to eschew violence.

"What should be done now is, first of all, to keep the heads cool," he said.

Everts said he thought it was unlikely that Nano would give in to calls by Berisha that his government resign. He said that would only create more chaos.

"People want to be able to walk in the streets, obviously, and institutions should be protected and preserved," he said. "So resignation now would be rather adding to the chaos than resolving it. I think it is very unlikely at this moment."

European countries concerned about the deepening unrest are considering sending a high-level ministerial delegation to Albania to defuse the situation, perhaps as early as this weekend. Ministers from Austria, Greece, Poland and Italy could take part.

Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said the delegation would try to meet with both Nano and Berisha.