20,000 Albanians Demand Food, Heat in Anti-Government Rally

About 20,000 Albanians rallied in Tirana on Monday to mark the first anniversary of pro-democracy protests that ended more than four decades of Stalinism in Albania, Europe’s poorest country.

But the mood was dampened by lack of heating in many cities as a cold wave swept the country, increasing the misery of a weary population already suffering from chronic food shortages and a paralyzed government.

As people ran out of wood for their apartment stoves and turned to electric heaters, the overloaded and creaking power grid caused blackouts in many parts of Tirana and towns throughout the country.

“We demand food and heating. But this can only be achieved by clearing Communists out of the administration and bureaucracy,” trade union leader Gezim Kalaja told the crowd.

“Those who had political power now have economic power. We have no more confidence in the government or president.”

Armed police with orders to shoot if necessary accompanied soldiers distributing bread and guarded stores after Albanians fearing famine raided food warehouses over the weekend. Two people were killed in Lac, northeast of Tirana, in the disturbances.

People lined up Monday for hours in Tirana for bread, but no incidents were reported.

“The workers are heading toward total moral and economic ruin. We have no confidence anymore,” another speaker, Eqrem Kavaja, told the rally.

Demonstrators chanted: “Down with (President Ramiz) Alia, down with the government!”

There was no word of progress in Alia’s efforts to forge a political compromise between the country’s main parties to ensure stable government through the winter.

Prime Minister Ylli Bufi resigned under fire last week and now heads a caretaker team.

“Our hopes for freedom, democracy and better living have been sabotaged by the servants of the dictatorship and communism,” Kavaja said.

The crowd marched to the headquarters of the Democratic Party, the biggest opposition party, where party leader Sali Berisha pledged to press for early elections.

Berisha also defended his party’s decision last week to quit the coalition government, a move that plunged the country into political crisis.