Flamur Noka

Opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha said on Tuesday that an investigation should be launched into former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri on suspicion that he aided drug dealers trafficking cannabis to Italy during his term in office.

Albanian police organisations called on Edi Rama's government to vet the state police next year in a fair way, and not let it serve as a showcase for his new Interior Minister.

Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj has issued a directive announcing the start of the vetting process in 2018, once the relevant legislation is adopted this year.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed to crush the "terrorists" responsible for blasts that rocked Tirana. 

The general prosecutor's office said one blast early on Tuesday hit a pharmacy owned by the father of the Interior Minister, Saimir Tahiri.

Another explosion went off at the house of police official. No casualties were recorded.

Albania's former Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, has urged the prosecutor’s office to investigate what he called excessive and illegal use of force by police in the village of Lazarat.