Three dead as Albania protest turns violent / Leaders trade blame for Albania’s strife

Three people were shot dead in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the Albanian capital Tirana on the 21 January 2011. Dozens more civilians and police were injured.

Thousands of people had gathered in the capital in response to a call from the socialist opposition to protest the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The protesters called for the government to step down, accusing it of corruption and electoral fraud.

France24, 23.1.11: Crisis escalates in Albania as opposition parties trade blame for protest victims http://www.france24.com/en/20110123-crisis-escalates-albania-after-protests-leaves-several-dead

Deutsche Welle, 23.1.11: Albania's political sides trade accusations over protesters' deaths http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14780517,00.html

BBC News, 23.1.11: Albania issues arrest warrants for republican guards http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12260659

European Commission: Speech/11/104: Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, "Statement on the situation in Albania", Plenary Session of the European Parliament, 15 February 2011 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/104&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

BBC News, 27.1.11: EU urges Albania to defuse political crisis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12296146

EEAS: EU-Albania relations http://eeas.europa.eu/albania/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Albanian opposition 'ready to negotiate' http://www.europeansources.info/record/albanian-opposition-ready-to-negotiate/

EEAS/European Commission: Press Release: MEMO/11/37: Joint statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Stefan Füle on the situation in Albania http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/37&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

OSCE: Press Release, 21.1.11: OSCE Chairperson calls for end to violence in Albania http://www.osce.org/cio/75045

Council of Europe: Press Release, No.49, 2011: Thorbjørn Jagland concerned about violence in Tirana https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1735537&Site=DC&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE

BBC News, 22.1.11: Albanian PM Berisha defiant after three die in clashes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12258266

Deutsche Welle, 21.1.11: EU calls for calm as three die in Albanian protests http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14779328,00.html

France24, 21.1.11: Deadly clashes break out at anti-government protest in Tirana http://www.france24.com/en/20110121-violent-clashes-break-out-anti-government-protest-tirana-hospital-injured-deaths

EUObserver, 24.1.11: Albania killings cast shadow over country's EU aspirations http://euobserver.com/9/31686

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