Frmr. Albanian defense chief faces charges

Albania's Prosecutor General asked parliament Saturday to lift the immunity of former defense minister Fatmir Mediu. The prosecutor is accusing Mediu of abuse of power related to a deadly ammunition depot explosion. Frmr. Albanian defense chief faces charges Mediu resigned as defense minister two days after the March 15 disaster in which a series of explosions of some 700 tons of ammunition powder near the capital, Tirana, killed 26 people and injured 302. The explosion also destroyed or damaged some 5,500 houses at a total cost of about 2 billion leks (USD 26mn), according to the request prosecutor Ina Rama sent to lawmakers. Violation of the laws and procedures of security and ammunition storage and the mismanagement of the disposal process had "caused the spark of the fire followed by the massive explosions" that had threatened the life and security of the people employed at the dismantling factory and residents in surrounding areas, Rama said in her request. She added that "a flagrant violation in this process has been the employment of children." Mediu, leader of the Republican Party that is part of the governing coalition, said at a news conference he was innocent and complained of a one-sided investigation. He, added, however, that he would cooperate with the investigation. Prime Minister Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party, the biggest in the 140-seat parliament, has said he would help a transparent investigation. The prosecutor also accused Mediu of favoring a U.S. and an Albanian company that formed a joint venture to dismantle the ammunition, adding that they had made "unfair profit," damaging Albania's economic interests. The contract envisaged dismantling some 18,000 tons of small- and large-caliber ammunition for some USD 583,000. The U.S. company, South Carolina-based Southern Ammunition has also been investigated by the FBI. A Defense Ministry official, and the owner and manager of the Albanian company, have been arrested for violating explosives laws. Two other senior officials also have been charged. The Socialist-led opposition has accused the government of corruption in dealing with the disposal of obsolete weapons, and urged Prime Minister Sali Berisha to resign. About 100,000 tons of excess ammunition, mostly Russian and Chinese artillery shells made in the 1960s or earlier, are stored in former army depots across Albania. NATO members, including the United States, Canada and Norway, have been helping Albania to dispose of the arsenal.

Frmr. Albanian defense chief faces charges

Mediu resigned as defense minister two days after the March 15 disaster in which a series of explosions of some 700 tons of ammunition powder near the capital, Tirana, killed 26 people and injured 302.

The explosion also destroyed or damaged some 5,500 houses at a total cost of about 2 billion leks (USD 26mn), according to the request prosecutor Ina Rama sent to lawmakers.

Violation of the laws and procedures of security and ammunition storage and the mismanagement of the disposal process had "caused the spark of the fire followed by the massive explosions" that had threatened the life and security of the people employed at the dismantling factory and residents in surrounding areas, Rama said in her request.

She added that "a flagrant violation in this process has been the employment of children."

Mediu, leader of the Republican Party that is part of the governing coalition, said at a news conference he was innocent and complained of a one-sided investigation. He, added, however, that he would cooperate with the investigation.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party, the biggest in the 140-seat parliament, has said he would help a transparent investigation.

The prosecutor also accused Mediu of favoring a U.S. and an Albanian company that formed a joint venture to dismantle the ammunition, adding that they had made "unfair profit," damaging Albania's economic interests.

The contract envisaged dismantling some 18,000 tons of small- and large-caliber ammunition for some USD 583,000.

The U.S. company, South Carolina-based Southern Ammunition has also been investigated by the FBI.

A Defense Ministry official, and the owner and manager of the Albanian company, have been arrested for violating explosives laws. Two other senior officials also have been charged.

The Socialist-led opposition has accused the government of corruption in dealing with the disposal of obsolete weapons, and urged Prime Minister Sali Berisha to resign.

About 100,000 tons of excess ammunition, mostly Russian and Chinese artillery shells made in the 1960s or earlier, are stored in former army depots across Albania.

NATO members, including the United States, Canada and Norway, have been helping Albania to dispose of the arsenal.