Скачать или смотреть ALBANIA: REBELS BLOW UP MAJOR ROADS & SET UP ROAD BLOCKS

(6 Mar 1997) Albanian/Nat
Rebels have blown up a key road between the southern towns of Delvina and Saranda in Albania on Thursday in an attempt to keep government troops out.
The rebels appear to have the area under their control with roadblocks checking all vehicles entering and leaving the towns.
They have raided army bases and have been parading their tanks around the towns.
And the leader of the local Republican party says his people will fight to the death if President Sali Berisha sends in troops.
A celebratory tour for the rebels on their commandeered tank to show the people of Delvina they're ready to fight President Sali Berisha's troops - if he sends them in.
The Albanian government has acknowledged the southern cities of Vlora, Saranda and Delvina are "out of control".
But it says it's intent on containing the growing rebellion - stemming from the collapse of little-regulated pyramid schemes - without violence.
This official line has been contradicted by eye witness accounts.
There have been reports of bombing raids by military jets over one southern town and Albanian troops have been setting up north and south of the rebel towns in an apparent effort to isolate them.
At least 300 soldiers were stationed at Gjrokastra, 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Saranda, and journalists said four army tanks rumbled through the town in a show of force to quell protests.
But despite this, a rally was held in Delvina with heavily armed men and women cheering their support for the leader of the local Republican Party.
He said they would never give in to Berisha.
SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"We expect everything from Berisha (that he will send in troops ) but we have to fight to the death and neither fascism has done these things that Berisha has done to his people."
SUPER CAPTION: Petrit Hazbi, President Republican Party in Delvina
A key road between Saranda and Delvina has been made almost impassable after the anti-government militants blew it up.
The crater is just one more sign of their determination to resist any move by government to regain control.
They have also raided army bases and have taken tanks and weapons.
One of the rebels told APTV that they had the total support of the local population.
SOUNDBITE:
"Q: Are more and more people joining you?
A: Every day, every day, every day - all the people from all the villages from all the towns, all the people. You'll see the little people (points at boy standing next to him) the children are with us."
SUPER CAPTION: Rebels
Residents of Saranda have been steadily fortifying the city and organising defences.
Hundreds of armed militants man roadblocks into the port and have positioned three
stolen tanks at its main entrances.
The barricades are also reinforced with anti-aircraft weapons.
Informal committees have been set up to deal with civilian and military affairs in Saranda. An overnight curfew was imposed and the insurgents were trying to forge communications links with Vlora.

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