Albania: Fire at Education Ministry as students protest

Riot police deployed in the Albanian capital Tirana on the second day of student protests. The sudden outbreak seemed at least somewhat reminiscent of the widespread demos in France courting international attention.

Albania's Education Ministry caught fire on Wednesday in a second day of student protests over corruption and education.

The scenes were at least somewhat reminiscent of the protracted student demonstrations in France in recent weeks.

They are probably the most violent outburst of low-level anti-corruption protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government and the main opposition led by Sali Barisha that started in May this year.

Police deployed riot police and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in the capital Tirana.

Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry on Wednesday, many obscuring their faces. Some threw bricks at the building, damaged barriers on the sidewalks and overturned trash cans.

A bank near the Education Ministry also caught fire, according to the Reuters news agency citing a witness.

The demonstration started on Tuesday with a peaceful gathering of several hundred people outside the Education Ministry but quickly escalated and turned violent in places.

Police early on Wednesday reported around 40 detentions and 13 people injured, including six police officers. Unrest continued long after these figures were issued.

Government says demonstrations degenerated into 'orchestrated violence'

Deputy Prime Minster Albana Kociu posted a video of demonstrations on Facebook saying it was "disheartening to see the culture of protest degenerate into orchestrated violence."

She said that the attacks on institutions and police and the "senseless destruction of public property" were "not the language through which the youth should express themselves." Instead, she said they were reminiscent of the "old habits of those who use young people to mask their own political incompetence."