Military of Albania

Bajram Begaj has swapped the military for the office of Albanian president. But can he become a figure of unity after a much-criticised election?

The Greek coast guard has released a video showing a boat chase that resulted in the seizure of 1.6 tons of cannabis and the arrest so far of 10 men suspected of being part of a large network smuggling drugs from Albania to Greece and Italy.

Albania's Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that it has opened criminal proceedings against four officers who failed to return home from a training mission in the United Kingdom, apparently prferring to live in the UK as illegal immigrants than enjoy a career in the armed forces of Albania.

The Albanian Defense Ministry said the United States has secured the first Humvee military jeeps designed to reinforce Albanian army capabilities, the Associated Press reported.

The announcement yesterday that the first six out of a total of 248 Jeep Humvee have arrived in Albania within a USD 12 million aid package, BTA reported.

Albania's government is for the first time to grant special protection to employees and others working with the Defence Intelligence and Security agency, AISM, which is part of the Ministry of Defence.