Albanian PM Refuses to Resign as Student Protests Spread

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected calls to resign as thousands of protesters clashed with riot police in the capital, Tirana, for a third consecutive day, leaving several government buildings damaged. In a statement to Reuters, Rama insisted his responsibility was to listen, address legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward.

"The alternative would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations to join the European Union," Rama added in the statement issued on Thursday.

The tensions flared as riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters in Tirana. Demonstrators accuse officials of corruption and neglect of education, and have voiced anger over the sale of part of Albania's southern coastline for a luxury resort project backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Tirana's streets were strewn with burning rubbish bins, shattered bus stops and broken traffic lights. In the central Skanderbeg Square, police used batons to drive protesters back as tourists looked on.

Thursday's protests also spread to smaller cities as students joined a university boycott. Rama's government denies the corruption allegations; he has said he is ready to discuss rising education costs but refuses to resign.

"Some forces at home and abroad may not want Albania to succeed as a front-runner for EU accession. But I will not let violence divert Albania's European future," Rama said in the statement to Reuters.

'Everyone will certainly pay the price'

Earlier, Rama posted a video on his personal Facebook page showing him touring the burnt remains of an office in a university compound in Tirana. "Until yesterday, this was the office of the College of Europe, the school of a united Europe," he said in the video, his first public comments since the protests began. "Everyone is accountable before the law, and all those involved in this chaos will certainly pay the price."

The prime minister was due to meet a group of ruling-party lawmakers on Thursday morning, as protesters circulated an "ultimatum" demanding he resign by 1pm (11am GMT). Yet even before the deadline passed, protesters had begun clashing with police, setting up makeshift barricades and setting fire to rubbish bins.

'Our prime minister is the embodiment of corruption'

A female student who gave her name as Kiara told Reuters that the cost of living, poor job prospects and corruption allegations were the main issues for protesters. "Our prime minister is the embodiment of corruption. You can only find a job in your field if you know a friend of a friend," she said, her face covered by a mask like many others on the streets on Thursday.

Protesters are demanding Rama's resignation, saying no one has listened to their concerns throughout a summer of mostly peaceful demonstrations over the luxury resort project linked to Kushner.

Police said 65 people were arrested during Wednesday's protest on charges of "attacking police, public authorities, and public and private property". The health ministry said in a statement that hospitals in Tirana treated 89 people on Wednesday, including 61 police officers. Four police officers and two protesters remained in hospital, with one protester and two officers expected to undergo surgery.

"Attacking public authorities, damaging public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the students' legitimate demands," Rama said.