Albania: Defense minister quits over blast

Fire from munitions dump explosions burns overnight in Albania Albanian Defense Minister Fatmir Mejdiu has resigned following a series of fatal explosions at an arms dump near the Albanian capital, Tirana. Albania: Defense minister quits over blast The blasts killed at least 11 people and injured nearly 300. Twelve people are still missing, officials said. More than 300 buildings in the area were completely destroyed after the explosion at the site where workers were dismantling old munitions. Albania has about 100,000 tons of ammunition from communist times. Mejdiu's resignation comes amid calls from Albania's opposition leader for the government to stand down. "I ask the prime minister and the defense minister to stop making excuses, help families bury their dead and offer them financial assistance," said Edi Rama, leader of the opposition Socialist Party. "In the next few days, they [should] send their resignation [to] the president," he added. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ordered the country's chief prosecutor to oversee investigations into the blasts. The village of Gerdec adjoining the base has been declared an emergency zone, and Berisha promised aid for villagers who had lost their homes. "As soon as the damage is fully assessed, the government will commit all its resources to quickly react and rebuild the totally destroyed zone," he said. Albanian military experts were being assisted by employees of a U.S. company contracted by NATO to help them dispose of surplus munitions. There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts. Destroying the old munitions is one of the conditions Albania must fulfil to become a member of NATO. Along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania hopes to be invited to join the Western military alliance at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest early next month.

Albania: Defense minister quits over blast

The blasts killed at least 11 people and injured nearly 300. Twelve people are still missing, officials said.

More than 300 buildings in the area were completely destroyed after the explosion at the site where workers were dismantling old munitions.

Albania has about 100,000 tons of ammunition from communist times.

Mejdiu's resignation comes amid calls from Albania's opposition leader for the government to stand down.

"I ask the prime minister and the defense minister to stop making excuses, help families bury their dead and offer them financial assistance," said Edi Rama, leader of the opposition Socialist Party.

"In the next few days, they [should] send their resignation [to] the president," he added.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ordered the country's chief prosecutor to oversee investigations into the blasts.

The village of Gerdec adjoining the base has been declared an emergency zone, and Berisha promised aid for villagers who had lost their homes.

"As soon as the damage is fully assessed, the government will commit all its resources to quickly react and rebuild the totally destroyed zone," he said.

Albanian military experts were being assisted by employees of a U.S. company contracted by NATO to help them dispose of surplus munitions.

There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts.

Destroying the old munitions is one of the conditions Albania must fulfil to become a member of NATO.

Along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania hopes to be invited to join the Western military alliance at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest early next month.