ALBANIA: HEAVILY ARMED ITALIAN AND GREEK TROOPS SWEEP INTO THE ALBANIAN PORT OF VLORE

Record ID: 566091

  • Title: ALBANIA: HEAVILY ARMED ITALIAN AND GREEK TROOPS SWEEP INTO THE ALBANIAN PORT OF VLORE
  • Date: 21st April 1997
  • Summary: VLORE, ALBANIA (APRIL 21, 1997) (RTV(A) - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV OF PORT 0.11 2. LV ITALIAN SHIP AT SEA 0.16 3. SLV ALBANIAN POLICE AND ITALIAN SOLDIERS AT PORT 0.20 4. SLV ITALIAN SOLDIER WITH BINOCULARS 0.25 5. LV TWO DINGHIES CARRYING ITALIAN SOLDIERS APPROACHING PORT (2 SHOTS) 0.32 6. MCU SOLDIER WATCHING 0.36 7. LV ITALIAN SOLDIERS GETTING OFF BOATS AND WALKING TOWARDS PORT (2 SHOTS) 0.46 8. SLV/SV OF ITALIAN SOLDIERS MARCHING (3 SHOTS) 1.00 9. SLV/SV SOLDIERS PULLING DINGHIES ON SHORE (2 SHOTS) 1.07 10.SV SOLDIERS DISMANTLING DINGHIES (2 SHOTS) 1.15 11.SLV TRACTORS AND BULLDOZERS LEAVING LANDING CRAFT 1.21 12.LV/SLV OF TANKS LEAVING LANDING CRAFT AND DRIVING THROUGH WATER TO THE BEACH/SOLDIERS (5 SHOTS) 1.42 13.SV/SLV ALBANIANS GREETING SOLDIERS (3 SHOTS) 1.53 14.SLV/LV CROWD WALKING TOWARDS PORT CHEERING (3 SHOTS) 2.06 15.SV WOMAN GIVING FLOWER TO SOLDIER 2.11 16.LV CROWD CHEERING 2.18 17.TV PEOPLE SHAKING HANDS WITH SOLDIERS 2.24 18.TV CROWD CHEERING 2.29 19.LV ITALIAN CONVOY ON THE ROAD TO THEIR BASE (3 SHOTS) 2.43 20.LV/SV CONVOY OF GREEK SOLDIERS HEADING TOWARDS THEIR BASE (5 SHOTS) 3.08 21.SV/LV OF GREEK SOLDIERS IN VEHICLES ON BASE (3 SHOTS) 3.20 Initials P3 S3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 6th May 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VLORE, ALBANIA
  • City:
  • Country: Albania
  • Reuters ID: LVAO9Y4TZOL0ZWOAOFRTTDNZM40
  • Story Text: Heavily armed Italian and Greek troops have swept into the volatile southern Albanian port of Vlore, securing a key bridgehead into the violence-racked nation.

    Nearly a week after soldiers from a multinational security force first began arriving in Albania and secured two other key ports of entry, Italian and Greek troops arrived in Vlore early on Monday (April 21).

    In a spectacular landing, about 30 Italian tanks and armoured personnel carriers splashed onto the beaches near the port after landing craft brought them close to shore from a transport ship anchored about 1,000 metres (yards) outside the port.

    Some 160 Italian marines leaped off their launches and hovercraft. With their rifles at the ready, the soldiers immediately began searching buildings near the port, where the air was tense as sporadic gunfire rattled in the distance.

    Vlore, which is 150 km (90 miles) south of Tirana, and much of southern Albania have been controlled by rebel committees since an armed uprising that has claimed about 300 lives began in February.

    The committees reject the authority of President Sali Berisha and demand his resignation. They blame Berisha for the collapse of get-rich-quick schemes that triggered the revolt.

    The eight-nation U.N.-backed security force that will protect humanitarian aid convoys has been extraordinarily cautious about its plans for entering Vlore, where the violence began and the death toll has been high.

    The troops are part of a 6,000-strong eight-nation force being led by Italy that began landing in Albania last Tuesday. The western port of Durres and Tirana airport were secured by the forces last Tuesday .

    More than 4,000 soldiers have now arrived in Albania. France, Spain, Romania, Turkey, Austria and Denmark are also contributing troops.

    A total of 450 Italian and 130 Greek soldiers were expected to arrive in Vlore on Monday with another 160 Italians arriving by sea.

    Hundreds of Albanians watched from a distance as the sea landing unfolded. Many cheered and tried to shake the hands of the soldiers after they arrived and fanned out through the area.

    Leaders of the Vlore town council held a rally in a central square to inform people about the landing.

    Several thousand gathered to hear various local leaders urge them to support the soliders. One leader said Vlore would organise an official welcome ceremony on Tuesday.


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