Riots in Tirana enter a fifth day as Albania's anti-government protests escalate

Clashes broke out near the prime minister’s office in Albania as riots gripped the capital, Tirana, for a fifth dayClashes broke out near the Albanian prime minister’s office in the capital, Tirana, on Saturday as anti-government riots entered a fifth day.Protesters hurled rocks, petrol bombs, flares and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges as clashes spread through the city center.The violence escalated after high school and university students joined a broader anti-government movement calling for Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.Police said 167 people had been arrested and 132 officers injured during the unrest.“For five days, the national police have been facing acts of violence during rallies, where masked and violent individuals have attacked police officers and public institutions for long hours, damaging public and private property,” National Police Chief Skender Hita said.Seven police officers have been suspended pending investigations into allegations of “exceeding their duties,” Hita said.The latest protests follow months of rallies in Tirana organized by the so-called Flamingo movement. The movement was launched ...