Albanian PM says protests threaten EU bid, not his government

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to resign on Sunday, warning that six days of violent protests threaten the country's European Union membership bid rather than his government's stability. Student-led demonstrations over corruption, unemployment, and education standards have spread from Tirana to other cities, with protesters setting fires, smashing property, and clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannon. Rama blamed unspecified foreign interests for the unrest and an alleged drone attack on his office. The protests follow months of peaceful demonstrations against a coastal development backed by Jared Kushner, and pose the biggest challenge to Rama's rule since 2013. Police have charged 388 people, while Albania aims to join the EU by 2030.