Up to a thousand Albanian opposition supporters braved lashing rain here on Saturday to continue protests over the results of last month's local elections.
The demonstrators gathered in a square in the center of Tirana where they heard the protest's organizers demand that they "resist the Socialist government which has installed a dictatorship" in Albania.
The Democratic Party, led by Sali Berisha, has refused to recognize the results of October's municipal elections -- won by the ruling Socialist party -- accusing the government of fraud.
"Down with the communists" and "Long live Berisha," the crowd shouted, a tribute to the opposition leader who also took part in the protest.
The crowd, visibly demoralized by the driving rain, melted away peacefully after about an hour.
Berisha, a former president, was one of the principal losers in the elections.
On Friday several petrol bombs were hurled at the government's headquarters in a similar demonstration in the capital by angry opposition supporters.
On November 15, an Italian diplomat and OSCE representative quit the country after receiving death threats. The representative had been accused by the opposition of being a Socialist "sympathizer" -- TIRANA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
