Albania opposition protest for early elections

Albania’s Socialist opposition is expected to hold simultaneous rallies in four Albanian cities on Friday, in an effort to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and force early elections.

The rallies, which will be held in the cities of Vlora, Lezha, Korca as well as the capital Tirana, is the third wave of protests launched by the opposition in the last three weeks.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his ruling majority have declared with increasing intensity over the past week that the January 21unrest was part of a failed coup d’état. Berisha has accused the general prosecutor, the president, the secret service, the opposition and the media of being part of a conspiracy to overthrow him.