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Albanian military called to action in protests
President refuses to impose state of emergency
In this story:
January 27, 1997
Web posted at: 8:20 p.m. EST (0120 GMT)TIRANA, Albania (CNN) -- As soldiers defended public buildings from the wrath of angry protesters, the president of Albania ruled out imposing a state of emergency.
President Sali Berisha will not proclaim a "total or partial" state of emergency and has "refused all suggestions" from leaders of the ruling rightist Democratic Party that he should do so, the presidency said in a statement.
Soldiers guarding public buildings
Berisha won approval from parliament on Sunday to summon the army to restore order after protesters rioted over the weekend in the capital city of Tirana and a half-dozen other towns.
On Monday, eight trucks filled with soldiers were posted outside the Defense Ministry. Soldiers also guarded the state radio and TV center.
More unrest was reported Monday in the town of Peshkopija, which is about 40 miles northeast of the capital. A mob attacked a police station and set fire to city hall, injuring several policemen in the process.
Fraudulent investment schemes caused turmoil
Violence has escalated in Albania since the arrest of two operators of pyramid or "Ponzi" schemes, which pay off initial investors with the funds of later investors, but often go bankrupt when the scheme loses momentum and no new investors can be found.
Thousands of Albanians invested millions of dollars into the privately run schemes, many losing their life savings. They're demanding the release of the operators from jail, fearing more investments in the schemes will be lost entirely.
Many protesters also blame Berisha's economic policies for allowing the pyramid schemes to evolve into the current crisis.
The violence is perhaps the greatest challenge to the government since Albania threw off Stalinist rule five years ago.
Berisha has promised people they will get their money back by February 5.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Albania OK's military guard as violence escalates - January 26, 1997
- Albanian scam victims riot, turn on government - January 25, 1997
Related sites:
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- Don't Get Burned By Pyramid Schemes - tips from the Federal Trade Commission
- Federal Trade Commission
- Albania - Land of the Eagles
- Albanian Daily News
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