Latest count: 16 dead in Albania blast

According to latest reports, 16 people died as a result of the explosion of an arms depot near Tirana on Saturday.

Izvor: Beta

Tuesday, 18.03.2008.

13:25

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According to latest reports, 16 people died as a result of the explosion of an arms depot near Tirana on Saturday. According to Albanian Health Minister Nard Ndoka, 16 people have died, some 300 are injured, and 12 are missing after Saturday’s blast. Latest count: 16 dead in Albania blast There are currently 52 people seeking medical treatment in hospitals, six of whom are in a very serious condition. The explosions began on Saturday and lasted 14 hours, with artillery and projectiles raining down on nearby villages and the international airport. The Albanian supreme prosecutor’s office stated that four people – a Defense Ministry official, the owner and one employee of the company responsible for destroying the ammunition, and the owner of a security company that arrived on the scene – are being questioned in relation to the incident. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha accepted the resignation tendered yesterday by Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu, stating that it was an “act of political responsibility” for the tragic explosion. Berisha dismissed opposition calls to resign himself, adding that they were trying to turn this tragedy to their political advantage. He said that the explosion had occurred while the process of destroying weapons left over from Albanian’s communist past had been in progress. Albania has about 100,000 tons of old weaponry and ammunition stored in former military depots and warehouses across the country. Berisha said that Mediu’s resignation would not affect Albania’s efforts to join NATO. Albania hopes to be invited to join the Alliance at NATO’s next summit scheduled to take place on April 2-4 in Bucharest.

Latest count: 16 dead in Albania blast

There are currently 52 people seeking medical treatment in hospitals, six of whom are in a very serious condition.

The explosions began on Saturday and lasted 14 hours, with artillery and projectiles raining down on nearby villages and the international airport.

The Albanian supreme prosecutor’s office stated that four people – a Defense Ministry official, the owner and one employee of the company responsible for destroying the ammunition, and the owner of a security company that arrived on the scene – are being questioned in relation to the incident.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha accepted the resignation tendered yesterday by Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu, stating that it was an “act of political responsibility” for the tragic explosion.

Berisha dismissed opposition calls to resign himself, adding that they were trying to turn this tragedy to their political advantage.

He said that the explosion had occurred while the process of destroying weapons left over from Albanian’s communist past had been in progress.

Albania has about 100,000 tons of old weaponry and ammunition stored in former military depots and warehouses across the country.

Berisha said that Mediu’s resignation would not affect Albania’s efforts to join NATO. Albania hopes to be invited to join the Alliance at NATO’s next summit scheduled to take place on April 2-4 in Bucharest.

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