Protesters and anti-riot police have clashed in Albania's main cities in scenes not witnessed for decades. Government buildings have been attacked and some private businesses, too. Albania's capital Tirana has seen months of protests from an anti-government "Flamingo" movement, but what started on Tuesday this week was on a different scale.
And the clashes have spread beyond Tirana - to include the main cities of Durrës, Shkodër, Lezhë and Vlora in the west, Gjirokastër in the south and Korçë in the east. The new demonstrations were announced as a student movement, ostensibly demanding action by the government to help with the high cost of education fees and books - and the higher cost of living. Secondary schools joined in, swelling the numbers.
Before too long, masked protesters threw stones at police, and they responded with water cannon, tear gas and batons. Many were incensed by scenes of a young man being carried away, his broken leg dangling with him in agony. Apologies were expressed but failed to calm the situation.
A floor of the education ministry was set on fire, with other government institutions ablaze, too. Every evening, throughout the summer for some 135 days in a row, Albanians in central Tirana would hold pictures of a pink flamingo, calling on Prime Minister Edi Rama - now in his fourth term - to resign. The protests began over a mega-tourism project on the Adriatic coast linked to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Demonstrators said the bird would become extinct on an island near the coastal city of Vlora, if the plans for a luxury development went ahead. The public anger comes as allegations of corruption among ministers and other senior officials grow louder. One deputy prime minister has fled the country, another has been ordered to step down as investigations continue.
Student protesters attack government buildings in Albania 'Flamingo Revolution' takes off as thousands demand Albanian PM's resignation Kushner-backed luxury resort plan sparks protests in Albania The flamingo protesters say they have no links to any political party - one of their slogans being "Rama in jail, Berisha in jail". While Rama is prime minister, Sali Berisha is Albania's main opposition leader - as well as a former prime minister and president. They were attended by young and old, parents with children and sometimes their grandparents.
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