Opposition calls for anti-government protest

TIRANA, March 31 – Albania’s main opposition Socialist party called, on Monday, for a protest later this week to be timed after Albania is possibly extended NATO membership at the organization’s Bucharest summit. In calling for the protest, Socialist leader Edi Rama called Sali Berisha’s government, “irresponsible, incapable and corrupt” and primarily responsible for the Gerdec tragedy in which 25 persons were killed and more than 300 injured. The catastrophe occurred while ammunition was being disarmed at a military base in Gerdec.
Rama called on people to demonstrate Friday afternoon at Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square to call for the government to resign and also be held responsible for the Gerdec tragedy.
The opposition also said they had asked parliament to call Berisha as a witness at a hearing. He would be allowed to provide a written statement regarding the government’s role in the Gerdec tragedy.
The opposition said the parliament would have no other agenda than the Gerdec tragedy.
In other matters, Berisha said Monday he was convinced that Albania would receive an invitation this week to join NATO.
He also praised the opposition for supporting reforms needed for NATO membership efforts and urged further bipartisan collaboration.(Tirana Times Staff)