Albanian opposition calls protests against killings

The opposition Democratic Party in Albania has called for protests against the government, following the killing of three of its members on Tuesday.

They were killed by masked gunmen in the northwestern town of Tropoja.

The opposition leader, Sali Berisha, has blamed the government for what he says are political killings, and called on his supporters who control local governments to observe a day of national mourning on Thursday.

The incident is the latest in a spate of attacks throughout Albania.

A man was massacred on Tuesday by police avenging the killing of their chief in a southern town.

The Interior Minister, Neritan Ceka, says the situation is under control.

Nearly one million weapons, stolen from military depots in the chaos which followed the collapse of fraudulent investment schemes last year, remain in unauthorised hands.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service