Police in Albania's capital, Tirana, have reportedly fired rubber bullets at antigovernment demonstrators as violent clashes escalated amid growing demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down. The unrest entered its fifth consecutive day after university and high school students joined broader demonstrations criticizing the administration's socio-economic policies.

Protesters hurled stones, petrol bombs, and fireworks toward security forces stationed near Rama's office and across central Tirana. Demonstrators reportedly set vehicles and rubbish bins ablaze, constructing burning barricades that paralyzed traffic. Security forces countered with tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges, utilizing rubber bullets for the first time since the demonstrations began.

National police chief Skender Hita confirmed the deployment of rubber bullets, claiming they were used in a limited manner. The Ministry of Health reported numerous injuries among both civilians and law enforcement personnel. Officials stated that over 150 individuals had been detained throughout the five days of unrest, while dozens of police officers sustained injuries.

The European regime and various international observers are closely monitoring the unfolding situation, though critics point to widespread systemic failures and economic stagnation as the root causes of public frustration. Prime Minister Rama has allegedly shifted the blame onto conservative political opponents, refusing to resign from his fourth term despite mounting pressure from the streets.

Source: www.aljazeera.com