Albania premier pledges to stay on

Relatives carry the coffin of Ziver Veizi, during his funeral ceremony in southern Gjirokastra, 110 miles south of capital Tirana, Albania Sunday Jan. 23, 2011. Veizi and two others were killed during clashes outside the prime ministers office in the Albanian capital Friday. A political crisis has escalated in Albania as the government and the opposition traded blame for the deaths of three protests during a violent demonstration against an administration accused of deeply rooted corruption. AP Photo

TIRANA: Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Sunday he would not yield to demands to step down, warning his political rival to seek power through the ballot box and not through violence, just days after deadly riots in the Balkan country.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Berisha accused Socialist leader Edi Rama of trying to gain power through force and orchestrating a crystal clear attempt to overthrow a legitimate government. He also said Rama led gangs, thugs and criminals to the government building.

I advise him not to try again a second attempt will be (met with) a tough response, Berisha said in his office in Albanias capital, Tirana, which was besieged Friday by protesters who took to the streets to demand his resignation.

Berisha did not specify what the response would be, but said it would be within Albanias laws.

Rama has denied organizing an attempted coup. Three people were killed and more than 150 were injured in clashes with police at a rally against Berishas government, which the protesters accuse of deeply rooted corruption.

The government blames opposition extremists for the deaths, while opposition leaders say government forces opened fire on demonstrators.

As the burials of the dead got under way Sunday, both! parties continued to trade accusations over the violence.

This gentleman (Rama) wants by all means to be prime minister of the country. He could become a prime minister through a vote, but not through force These people have some problems to realize that the rules of the game are different, Berisha said, referring to five decades of harsh Communist rule in Albania.

Berisha promised to investigate the deaths, but insisted that police were professional and praised their handling of Fridays rally.

Parliament held a special session late Sunday and formed an investigative commission.

However, the opposition complained that the arrest warrants brought against six guards suspected of involvement in Fridays shooting were not acted upon.

Berishas comments came just as Western ambassadors met with and appealed to Albanias top leaders to work toward a compromise that would defuse the political tension between the rival parties.

Despite the mediation efforts, the opposition and Berishas governing Democratic Party have called for new rallies next week in a further escalation of the political crisis in Albania.

Albania, one of Europes poorest countries, was ruled for about half a century by xenophobic Communists who banned contact with the outside world until 1990. It is now a Nato member and seeks to join the 27-nation EU.

But its still-weak administration, widespread corruption and the ever-squabbling politicians have often plunged the tiny Balkan country of 3.2 million into chaos, similar to the widespread riots in 1997 that followed the collapse of popular but fraudulent investment schemes.