Albanian police and protesters clash in Tirana for fifth day

Anti-government protesters and riot police clashed violently in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday for a fifth consecutive day, with masked demonstrators throwing rocks and petrol bombs while police used water cannon, tear gas, and reportedly rubber bullets. The protests, which began in June, have grown into a broader anti-government movement demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over corruption allegations. Hundreds have been arrested or charged, and the city center has been left with burnt debris and broken glass. Rama, in power for 13 years, blamed the unrest on the opposition and unspecified foreign actors, while a separate corruption investigation has led to the arrest of the secret service chief. The next parliamentary elections are not due until 2029.