Eggs, tomatoes fly as Albania opposition ups protests

By Associated Press

Published: 16:13 GMT, 17 December 2015 | Updated: 16:13 GMT, 17 December 2015

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Anti-government protesters in Albania have pelted police with tomatoes, eggs, and smoke flares during a rally near parliament.
Several thousand supporters of the conservative opposition attended the rally Thursday and challenged a police cordon as lawmakers from the center-right Democratic Party presented procedural obstacles during a municipal budget debate.
The opposition has launched a protest campaign against Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, accusing it of corruption and ineffective leadership.

An Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporter, centre, wears a mask, during a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty, (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Protests are being organized amid an unpopular government crackdown on nonpayment of household electricity bills, as well as recent hikes in income taxes and social security contributions.

An Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporter shouts, during a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty, (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporters take part in a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

An Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporter releases a smoke flare, during a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

A group of Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporters wear masks during a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

View of the tomatoes, broken eggs and potatoes thrown by Albanian opposition Democratic Party supporters, during a rally in front of the Parliament building, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. to protest against government¿s links to crime, corruption and taking the country into poverty. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

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