Antigovernment Protesters Take To Streets Of Tirana

The leader of Albania's opposition Socialist Party, Edi Rama, during an antigovernment protest in Tirana on February 4

Thousands of Albanian opposition supporters took to the streets of the capital, Tirana, on February 4, demanding that the government step down over corruption and electoral fraud allegations.

More than 3,000 people marched along the city's main boulevards, two weeks after antigovernment protests turned violent.

On January 21, protests against the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha saw three demonstrators shot dead in clashes with security forces. Around 150 were injured.

Berisha has refused to resign, accusing the opposition of trying to stage a coup.

Protests also occurred on February 4 in other Albanian cities.

The opposition has vowed to demonstrate every Friday.

compiled from agency reports