Albanian protesters hurl petrol bombs

Protesters in Albania have hurled Molotov cocktails at the prime minister's office in a bid to make him quit over alleged election fraud and corruption.

Source: AP

Albanian opposition protesters have hurled petrol bombs at the entrance of Prime Minister Edi Rama's office after three months of demonstrations calling for him to quit over alleged election fraud and corruption.

Chanting "We want a European Albania", the slogan of pro-democracy protests when the Balkan country dumped communism in 1990, they renewed the call they made since February for snap polls after their lawmakers also cut ties with parliament.

A supporter of the opposition throws back a tear gas cannister to riot police during a protest in Tirana in Albania. Source: EPA

Some protesters on Saturday, including a group with masked faces, hurled petrol bombs, firecrackers and paint at the entrance of the government building and later at parliament.

A dozen policemen and several protesters were hurt, police and reporters said.

Policemen try to avoid exploding Molotov bombs thrown by protesters, during a protest in Tirana, Albania. Source: EPA

During a lull in the attacks at the premier's building, opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha said they were "determined to keep waging a bigger and more resolute battle as long as the government was keeping Albania apart from Europe".

"We are here with a mission, to liberate Albania from crime and corruption, to make Albania like the rest of Europe," Basha told a crowd of several thousand along the main boulevard.