Anti-government protesters battle with police in Albania

She alleged there were provocateurs among the protesters, smashing up stores and banks, to discredit the demonstrations.Protesters and riot police fought running battles throughout the day in the centre of the capital Socialist Party Prime Minister Edi Rama has been in power for 13 years and has dominated Albanian politics, much like his main rival Sali Berisha, of the opposition Democratic Party, did for decades. The students say they are against "the whole corrupt political class". So what is the alternative?Osman Stafa, a prominent journalist for the News24 channel, who also describes himself as an activist for change, called for a "neutral, caretaker government for one year, to organise new elections".The irony for the wider European community during this latest wave of unrest is that Rama has long been viewed favourably by the EU, which Albania aspires to join.In a social media post on Saturday morning, he urged Albanian to "not forget that we have achieved extraordinary things".He blamed the protests on the opposition Democratic Party, and on what he called "the sinister agenda of foreign actors, intent on halting our progress" towards EU membership, which he has promised by 2030.