ALBANIA: GOVERNMENT SUSPEND MILITARY ATTACKS FOR 48 HOURS

• Report rights infringement
• published: 21 Jul 2015
• views: 540

Albanian/Nat Defying a government call to disarm, militants in southern Albania rallied forces Friday and selected leaders for their fight against President Sali Berisha. The government suspended military attacks in the south for 48 hours in the hope of keeping the civilian uprising from exploding into full-scale war. But the rebels have refused to lay down their arms and Albania's neighbours are bracing themselves for a flood of refugees. The first pictures out of Vlora, since Albania's state of emergency was imposed Sunday, leave little doubt that the rebels are determined to fight on. Armed militants continued to fire barrages into the air in the southern port city, although there were no signs of actual fighting. The schools were closed, but the shops remained open, with gun-toting citizens defiant. The government has lost control of Tepelena, Vlora, Saranda and Delvina, as well as some surrounding villages, over the past several days. In the rebel stronghold of Vlora, the man picked to lead the uprising in this town was given a tumultuous welcome. Albert Shyti was elected by committee representing the 16 different opposition parties in the city and is likely to be the one involved in any negotiations with government. He spelt out the militants' demands. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) "A main demand is that we meet the president to sort out a new date for new elections and for him to declare that he is going to resign." SUPER CAPTION: Albert Shyti, Vlora leader In addition to the resignation of the president and a date for new elections, rebels are demanding compensation for those who lost money in the collapse of high-risk investment funds. They have vowed to fight on until the extensive demands are met. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) "We are not going to lay down our arms until our demands are completely fulfilled. " SUPER CAPTION: Albert Shyti, Vlora leader Elsewhere in the south, the funeral took place of a 16-year-old boy killed by a stray bullet, Thursday night. Hundreds of people attended the funeral held in Tepelena, about 170 kilometres (105 miles) south of the capital Tirana. The atmosphere in the mountain town remains tense. The guns are aimed at government positions, just 34 kilometres away in the town of Girokastar. There, hundreds of Albanians thronged around the gates of the Greek consulate. Living in a government-held town, they are desperate to get over the border to Greece before the situation deteriorates still further. The queues were also growing longer in Kakavia, on the Greek border with Albania. The belief that civil war is on the verge of breaking out was written all across the anxious faces of those leaving. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1f3a5efa7845a9cca32c432218153c19 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork