Tirana clashes continue as Rama blames foreign forces for protests

Violent clashes between police and protesters continued Friday night in Tirana, with Prime Minister Edi Rama blaming "foreign forces" for the unrest, which he claims aims to block Albania's EU accession process. For a fourth consecutive day, police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters throwing stones and burning garbage bins. Masked groups smashed storefronts and looted shops, while demonstrators demand Rama's resignation over education conditions and university fees. The protests, ongoing for over four months, began over a luxury hotel project linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. At least 160 people have been arrested and 156 injured, while the EU has condemned the violence and called for an investigation.