Albania: Vlora: Armed Gangs Fight In Streets - 1997

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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Albanian/Nat Albania's bloody election campaign drew to a close with two bitter political foes urging voters to send their supporters to parliament and end the violence consuming the country. In his final campaign rally Friday in Tirana's downtown Skanderbeg Square, President Sali Berisha released four white doves symbolising the hope for peace. He called on Albania's youth to go to the polls Sunday and defeat the opposition Socialist Party, which he described as an alliance between communists and criminals. But as Albanians prepare to vote the south of the country is still ravaged by armed gangs. Tracer fire- a common enough sight across the rooftops of Vlora as armed gangs fight it out in the streets. Since the violence began in March this part of the country has been ungovernable. Now as Albania's often bloody election campaign draws to a close, all sides are promising that they can end the conflict and violence that is consuming the country. But whoever takes the reigns of power in Sunday's poll will have to try to persuade bands of heavily armed gangs to lay down their arms. The port city of Vlora is virtually in the hands of Albanian Mafia - and its most feared leader Zani says that although they want to work with the authorities, they don't want Berisha to win again. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) "The priority is that we hold a new election. We will collaborate with the police." SUPER CAPTION: Zani, gang leader. His objection to the Albanian president evidently runs deep. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) "If Berisha wins, we will all die of shame." SUPER CAPTION: Zani, gang leader. In a concession to the opposition and international election monitors, the Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that polls would close at 6 p.m., three hours earlier than planned. The earlier closing time will allow voters to reach home before nightfall and enable monitors to watch the vote count without having to worry about travelling after dark. More than 500 observers will monitor the elections, a job given to the 54-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Opposition candidates know their best chance lies in a significant turn out. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) Everyone is going to vote because this is the only way to get President Berisha off the political stage or I should say the criminal stage of Albania. SUPER CAPTION: Alber Shuti, Salvation Party candidate An Italian-led multinational force of nearly 7-thousand troops will provide security for the 250 teams of two that will visit some of the 4,525 polling stations. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a258887cd0fece9bc2c55507145ffcd3 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork