Dozens Rally Against Albania's Interior Minister

Dozens of young Socialist Party supporters held a rally on Friday seeking the resignation of Minister of Interior Lulzim Basha.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

The protesters gathered at noon in front of Basha’s office chanting sharply-worded slogans and accusing the minister for the death of four anti-government protesters during the January 21 unrest.

A violent opposition protest on January 21 turned deadly when members of the Republican Guard opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing four and wounding more than a dozen.

The January 21 rally turned into a riot when several hundred marchers attacked the police barricade set up to protect the prime minister’s office, using sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons and later with live ammunition.

Prosecutors are investigating the murders, the organisers of the protest and the violent demonstrators that attacked the police.

Basha is tipped to be the ruling party's candidate for mayor of Tirana in the May local elections, a post currently held by opposition leader Edi Rama.