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21 January 2011
Last updated at 12:14 ET
Three people have been killed in the Albanian capital Tirana during clashes between police and thousands of opposition supporters.
An estimated 20,000 people rallied outside government buildings calling on the conservative government to resign.
The protests follow the resignation of deputy prime minister Ilir Meta who is at the centre of a fraud scandal.
The socialist opposition accuses the government of corruption, abuse of power and rigging the last election.
Albania has been in political deadlock since the opposition rejected the result of the 2009 elections.
"Three people are dead, 17 policemen and soldiers were injured, including three seriously, along with 22 civilians," hospital surgeon Sami Koceku told AFP news agency.
Witnesses said a section of the crowd threw rocks at the police who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Some protesters also threw stones from the top of a pyramid-shaped museum near the office of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and set light to a police car and other vehicles.
Following three hours of clashes, protesters dispersed after appeals for calm from President Bamir Topi and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama.
Police in riot gear then took control of the main streets and television footage showed officers fanning out through the main boulevard, chasing stray protesters and beating some with truncheons.
There were no immediate reports of arrests.
The opposition wants fresh parliamentary elections after rejecting the result of the June 2009 vote which Mr Berisha's Democratic Party won by a small margin.
Political tensions rose after Ilir Meta - Mr Berisha's key ally - resigned last week after being accused of corruption over a power plant tender.
Albania will hold local elections on 8 May but the next general election is not due until 2013.
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An estimated 20,000 people rallied outside government buildings calling on the conservative government to resign.
The protests follow the resignation of deputy prime minister Ilir Meta who is at the centre of a fraud scandal.
The socialist opposition accuses the government of corruption, abuse of power and rigging the last election.
Albania has been in political deadlock since the opposition rejected the result of the 2009 elections.
"Three people are dead, 17 policemen and soldiers were injured, including three seriously, along with 22 civilians," hospital surgeon Sami Koceku told AFP news agency.
Witnesses said a section of the crowd threw rocks at the police who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Some protesters also threw stones from the top of a pyramid-shaped museum near the office of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and set light to a police car and other vehicles.
Following three hours of clashes, protesters dispersed after appeals for calm from President Bamir Topi and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama.
Police in riot gear then took control of the main streets and television footage showed officers fanning out through the main boulevard, chasing stray protesters and beating some with truncheons.
There were no immediate reports of arrests.
The opposition wants fresh parliamentary elections after rejecting the result of the June 2009 vote which Mr Berisha's Democratic Party won by a small margin.
Political tensions rose after Ilir Meta - Mr Berisha's key ally - resigned last week after being accused of corruption over a power plant tender.
Albania will hold local elections on 8 May but the next general election is not due until 2013.
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Legal Forum | Politics Forum | Sports Forum | Teen Forum | Webmaster Forum