TIRANA - The opposition Socialists won his battle in Albania and dominate the political scene by dragging the square in 100 000 people with a peaceful demonstration, compact and quiet. Even fears the day before pushing the police to evoke the specter of new incidents have been proven wrong. For a couple of hours the part of the country for a year and a half challenges the social and economic policies of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, leader of a center-breakfast, it was around a dozen close relatives of three victims killed by Republican Guard soldiers Friday, January 20 during the violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
The chronicle of the event WATCH Wrapped in a tense silence, but especially of pain, a crowd of men and women, old and children, had gathered outside the headquarters of the Socialist Party. Were handed out flowers and candles, along with ribbons draped in mourning, people are tight on my arm.
Enveloped by the notes of Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and Mozart's Requiem, the procession moved in complete silence. There were no banners, flags, banners and signs. Only photographs of the three victims - three men - framed and brought to the arm by two girls and a boy. Behind, forming a long snake that has been articulated through the center of the city, followed the opposition parliamentarians, artists, actors, directors, intellectuals and socialist militants and ordinary citizens.
Pay their respects to the three victims stopped the whole Tirana. The shops have closed, traffic has disappeared, the people stayed home for fear of further clashes, he said excitedly from the windows. Despite an annoying rain and bitter cold, the Albanians did not want to give up what they considered, however, beyond the political positions, their day: a big showdown that would reflect on a crisis sparked by a political paralysis for eighteen months landlocked.
Edi Rama, leader of the Socialist Party and mayor of Tirana, took part in the parade in the most delicate moment: passing a few meters from the palace of the prime minister, defended by two thousand policemen in riot gear, some fifty soldiers of the Republican Guard, a Double rolls of barbed wire and snipers in nearby buildings.
The crowd paused for a long time before the point where the three men were killed, buried by flowers and candles. Three giant panels mounted on a closed path of the procession and forced him to bend along the route. Sali Berisha has opted for silence. He noted the event broadcast live on television from the study on the second floor of the building that was touched by the mass of demonstrators.
There were no screams, angry reactions, instinctive reaction that they may result in police and army. The opposition has demonstrated political maturity in perhaps his most difficult time. He kept the appointment, despite appeals from the international community to withdraw, and was proposed as a new leader of the country.
Surrounded by the music that marked the poignant memorial service, people kissed, touched, greeted the photos of the victims and it melted into a big virtual hug. But it is just one of many steps in a battle that will continue in the coming days. There are three dead demand justice. There is an ongoing investigation to determine responsibility for the shooting, there are six arrest warrants against the top of the Republican Guard yet to be performed.
There are a million unemployed and large pockets of poverty that are pressing the government on a vote by the majority but now supported only by the minority Albanians. 
The chronicle of the event WATCH Wrapped in a tense silence, but especially of pain, a crowd of men and women, old and children, had gathered outside the headquarters of the Socialist Party. Were handed out flowers and candles, along with ribbons draped in mourning, people are tight on my arm.
Enveloped by the notes of Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and Mozart's Requiem, the procession moved in complete silence. There were no banners, flags, banners and signs. Only photographs of the three victims - three men - framed and brought to the arm by two girls and a boy. Behind, forming a long snake that has been articulated through the center of the city, followed the opposition parliamentarians, artists, actors, directors, intellectuals and socialist militants and ordinary citizens.
Pay their respects to the three victims stopped the whole Tirana. The shops have closed, traffic has disappeared, the people stayed home for fear of further clashes, he said excitedly from the windows. Despite an annoying rain and bitter cold, the Albanians did not want to give up what they considered, however, beyond the political positions, their day: a big showdown that would reflect on a crisis sparked by a political paralysis for eighteen months landlocked.
Edi Rama, leader of the Socialist Party and mayor of Tirana, took part in the parade in the most delicate moment: passing a few meters from the palace of the prime minister, defended by two thousand policemen in riot gear, some fifty soldiers of the Republican Guard, a Double rolls of barbed wire and snipers in nearby buildings.
The crowd paused for a long time before the point where the three men were killed, buried by flowers and candles. Three giant panels mounted on a closed path of the procession and forced him to bend along the route. Sali Berisha has opted for silence. He noted the event broadcast live on television from the study on the second floor of the building that was touched by the mass of demonstrators.
There were no screams, angry reactions, instinctive reaction that they may result in police and army. The opposition has demonstrated political maturity in perhaps his most difficult time. He kept the appointment, despite appeals from the international community to withdraw, and was proposed as a new leader of the country.
Surrounded by the music that marked the poignant memorial service, people kissed, touched, greeted the photos of the victims and it melted into a big virtual hug. But it is just one of many steps in a battle that will continue in the coming days. There are three dead demand justice. There is an ongoing investigation to determine responsibility for the shooting, there are six arrest warrants against the top of the Republican Guard yet to be performed.
There are a million unemployed and large pockets of poverty that are pressing the government on a vote by the majority but now supported only by the minority Albanians.
- Thousands march in Tirana in memory of three protesters shot dead by army - Irish Times (28/01/2011)
- Albanian opposition holds anti-gov't demonstration (28/01/2011)
- Albanian opposition holds anti-gov't demonstration - Washington Post (28/01/2011)
- Deadly Protests Don't End Albania's Power Play (28/01/2011)
- Albania Protests Set to Continue amid Political Power Play (28/01/2011)
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