- Title: ALBANIA: REBELS LOOT WEAPONS AS UPRISING SPREADS
- Date: 13th March 1997
- Summary: DURRES, ALBANIA (MARCH 13, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV PEOPLE RUNNING IN STREET WITH GUNS 0.05 2. SLV PEOPLE LOOTING GUN STORE 0.17 3. SLV MAN DRAGGING GUNS LOOTED FROM STORE BEHIND HIM 0.23 4. SLV YOUNG MAN RUNNING WITH LOOTED GUNS 0.29 5. SLV PEOPLE CARRYING LOOTED GUNS AND BOXES OF AMMUNITION / AUDIO OF GUNFI
- Embargoed: 28th March 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TIRANA AND DURRES, ALBANIA
- City:
- Country: Albania
- Reuters ID: LVA3STV7ASE16UIBC8KHEPPRQD5T
- Story Text: - INTRO: Rebels all over Albania have continued to loot weapons and ammunition as the uprising spreads to Tirana.
Many foreigners residing in the country are preparing for evacuation.
Albania's chaotic armed insurgency spread through the north of the country on Thursday (March 13) as looters raided military bases for weapons and wandered around the streets with their newly-acquired weapons.
In the town of Durres, people raided military stores, saying that they wanted to arm themselves to protect themselves in a "religious war from the south." Ferry boats that normally trade around the port slipped their moorings and stayed away from the town. People in the port were trying to board the boats so ferry operators stayed away to avoid trouble.
In the capital, Tirana, British residents gathered around the British embassy after plans to evacuate more than 120 British and other nationals from Albania were announced.
As widescale looting continued throughout the city, the mayor of Tirana, Albert Brojka, appeared on state television and appealed for calm.
But armed rebels had already reached the centre, blatantly walking across the central square with their weapons.
At the presidency, meanwhile, President Sali Berisha officially filled out the documents appointing Prime Minister Bashkim Fino.
U.S. military ships carrying helicopters were spotted off the coast of the southern Albanian port town of Sarande amid rumours that they may be part of an evacuation attempt of U.S. citizens in the country.
The U.S. State Department said it was ordering 160 government employees and their dependents to leave by regular or charter flights. Another 2,000 Americans were urged to go.
A Greek navy minesweeper sailed into the harbour of Sarande and later docked in order to unload a cargo of food and medical supplies for Albanian citizens.
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