Albanian opposition protesters defied a ban and held a peaceful rally Tuesday, while the government ordered armed opponents to turn in their weapons in an effort to squelch new violence after two days of riots.
In a nationally televised address, Prime Minister Fatos Nano said the government's patience was running out and it would not "wait endlessly for all weapons to be taken out" of the headquarters of his rival, former President Sali Berisha.Nano guaranteed the safety of Berisha and his followers, and said he was willing to consider "in principle" any formula for resolving the crisis, presumably including his own resignation, as the opposition has demanded.
The Interior Ministry - responsible for law and order - warned Tuesday it would respond with force to any resistance from Berisha supporters after clashes Sunday and Monday. Police were authorized to "shoot without warning" if opposed, the ministry said on state television.
About 3,000 of Berisha's supporters rallied in the main Tirana square, despite a ban by the Interior Ministry. The protest ended peacefully, but tensions in the capital remained high.
Many protesters flashed the two-fingered victory sign as Berisha coupled demands for Nano's resignation with exhortations that the demonstrators remain peaceful.
Dozens of police cars surrounded the protesters on Skanderbeg Square, lights flashing and sirens howling. The cars and several police vans were filled with officers carrying submachine guns and wearing stocking masks.
Sharpshooters took up positions on the roof of the nearby Interior Ministry building.
The weekend assassination of a popular Berisha ally touched off two days of unrest reminiscent of the nationwide anarchy that lasted for months in 1997 and sent refugees flooding into Italy, Greece and other European countries.