Gërdec dismisses two army generals, top army policeman

TIRANA, May 12 – President Bamir Topi, also commander-in-chief, dismissed two top generals from their posts for failing to fulfill their duties properly regarding ammunition disposal, a case linked to the March 15 blast that killed 26 and injured 302 persons in Gërdec near Tirana.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha removed Lt. Col. Hysni Gjergji, head of the army secret police.
Gen. Maj. Shpetim Spahiu and Gen. Brig. Zija Bahja were also removed from their posts in following with a proposal made to the president and premier by Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa.
Former Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu resigned following the blast and the prosecutor general has since asked parliament to lift his immunity so that he may be sued for abuse of post regarding the Gerdec tragedy.
Also, a former Defense Ministry official has been arrested, along with the owner and a manager of an ammunition disposal company working at the site, and charged with negligence.
In another move, Topi trasnferred the two main prosecutors responsible for Gerdec case to work near Prosecutor General Ina Rama, as she had requested.
Some residents of the area affected by the blast protested Monday, saying they had received no compensation as promised by the government. Residents of Marqinet village near Gerdec said they would begin a hunger strike unless properly compensated by authorities. They also claimed that the compensation distribution process was too encumbered by bureaucratic procedures.
The group also asked Prime Minister Sali Berisha to be present at the protest to listen to their complaints.(Tirana Times Staff)