Albanian police clash with anti-government protesters in Tirana for fifth day

Anti-government protesters in Albania clashed violently with riot police in Tirana on Saturday, marking the fifth consecutive day of pitched battles centered on the education ministry, with masked students hurling rocks and petrol bombs. Police responded with water cannon, tear gas, and reportedly rubber bullets for the first time, as protests that began in June over corruption allegations have swelled into a broader anti-government movement demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation. The afternoon saw the focus shift to Rama's office, where crowds grew larger than on previous days, with injuries on both sides and 80 people charged so far. The unrest has tarnished Rama's EU-friendly image, as he blames opposition parties and unnamed foreign actors for the violence, while a separate special prosecution investigation has led to the arrest of the secret service chief on corruption-related charges.