Clashes in Tirana as thousands rally against Albania's government

Protesters and police injured

300+ injured, authorities said

Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets as some protesters threw stones and burned bins at the Ministry of Education. Dozens were arrested.

The wave of protests began in mid-October over poor school conditions and the cost of living, and now calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. Some demonstrators also blame opposition leader Sali Berisha.

Rama blamed “foreign actors” for the violence and accused Russia and Iran of driving online misinformation. He has called for dialogue, but protesters set fire to cushions laid outside government headquarters as a symbol of talks.