Thousands Protest Amid Corruption Allegations Against Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama

Opposition protesters in Albania threw petrol bombs at government buildings, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and demanding his resignation. They also called for the release of opposition leader Sali Berisha, held under house arrest. No injuries were reported, and police extinguished the fires.

Opposition protesters in Albania escalated their discontent on Thursday night by pelting government buildings and a mayor's office with petrol bombs. The demonstrators accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and demanded his immediate resignation.

Thousands of opposition supporters congregated near Rama's office before moving on to the mayor's premises in Tirana, who is also part of Rama's Socialist Party. Police refrained from intervening but focused on extinguishing the fires, which posed dangers to several officers. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The protesters also voiced demands for the release of opposition leader Sali Berisha, currently under house arrest and investigation for alleged corruption during his term as Prime Minister from 2005-2013. Berisha has denied any wrongdoing, accusing Rama of engaging in a political vendetta to silence opponents. Rama has repeatedly denied these allegations, and prosecutors have yet to file formal charges against Berisha. Berisha, appearing via video from his house arrest, called on supporters to undertake civil disobedience to force the government into holding snap elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)