Protesters in Tirana have called for a fresh demonstration today, urging supporters to gather outside the Albanian parliament at 10:00 local time in an attempt to block MPs from attending Thursday's parliamentary session.
The planned action comes as unrest in the Albanian capital enters its 10th consecutive day, following a series of demonstrations that have at times descended into violence.
Rama renews calls for dialogue
For a third straight day, Prime Minister Edi Rama appealed to protesters to engage in dialogue.
Outside the prime minister's office, authorities placed stone benches that had previously been used by students as barricades. Attached to them was a sign bearing a single word: "Dialogue."
In the previous two days, protesters had destroyed symbolic “dialogue chairs” placed outside the building in response to Rama's similar appeals.
Parliament braces for political confrontation
Last Thursday's parliamentary session was postponed because of violent disturbances in the capital.
Today's sitting is expected to focus heavily on the demonstrations and the actions of the police. Albania's opposition Democratic Party has submitted an urgent parliamentary question to Interior Minister Ervin Demo, seeking explanations over the handling of the unrest.
Night-time clashes resume
Although economic activity in Tirana has begun returning to normal, with banks reopening and businesses resuming operations after damage caused during the first days of protests, tensions remain high.
Late last night, after several hours of calm, small groups of masked individuals reappeared on the capital's central Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard.
According to reports, they threw Molotov cocktails near the prime minister's office and at businesses located close to Tirana's twin towers.
The incidents were followed by clashes with police, with demonstrators throwing stones while security forces responded with water cannon in an effort to disperse the crowds.
Large numbers of police remained deployed across the city overnight as authorities sought to prevent further unrest.
Diplomatic contacts and regional summit
According to diplomatic sources, Albanian President Bajram Begaj held separate meetings with the ambassadors of the United States and several European Union member states, although no details of the discussions have been made public.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rama departed for Montenegro on Wednesday night to attend the Berlin Process Leaders' Summit.
Source: ANA-MPA
