Albanian police use force against protesters during twelfth day of demonstrations

Police in the capital city of Tirana used water cannon, tear gas, and rubber bullets against anti-government protesters on their twelfth day of demonstrations. Al Jazeera reported that the police action followed a warning from Prime Minister Edi Rama that he would take strong action to end the unrest. [1]

Al Jazeera and Bloomberg both reported that violent clashes erupted between police officers and demonstrators. Bloomberg noted that calls are growing for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. [1][2]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the unrest began after student movements organized demonstrations over high tuition fees, education costs, and social issues in Tirana. Tens of thousands of students took part in earlier protests, where demonstrators threw bricks at the Education Ministry and set fire to a government building and two banks. [5][6]

Edi Rama has served as the prime minister of Albania since 2013, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Rama previously stated that anti-government demonstrators had crossed a red line, while the European Commission called for a proportionate response to the violence. [5]