Albanian police appear to use rubber bullets as student-led protests enter fifth day
publishers 26articles 33first reported 14 Oct, 12:30 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 19 editions
Albanian police fired what appeared to be rubber bullets during clashes in Tirana on Saturday, the fifth day of student-led protests demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
Reuters footage showed an officer firing a shotgun toward crowds outside the Education Ministry, while reporters found rubber pellets at the scene. Two Reuters journalists and several protesters were struck and left with round marks. Police chief Skender Hita did not deny that rubber bullets had been used, saying all measures were employed “in a limited manner, including the most recent ones.”
The protests have drawn thousands of people angered by alleged government corruption, high education costs, poor university conditions and limited job prospects. Demonstrators have also opposed plans for a luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner on part of Albania’s southern coastline. The unrest grew from months of largely peaceful demonstrations and has spread from the capital to other cities.
Protesters have thrown rocks, broken windows and set fire to rubbish bins, banks and government buildings. Police have responded with tear gas and water cannon, and authorities said 160 people were detained over alleged violence on Thursday.
Rama, whose government denies corruption, has rejected demands that he step down while saying he is prepared to discuss education costs and other legitimate concerns. On Friday, he blamed opposition figures and unspecified “foreign hands” for fueling the violence to obstruct Albania’s effort to join the European Union.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 72 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 26
- Source articles
- 33
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 72 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Delete the unsupported assessment that Rama provided no evidence; the rest of the story is faithful to the sources. - "He provided no evidence for that allegation in the reported remarks.": The sources do not report that Rama failed to provide evidence, and this is the writer’s own assessment based on excerpts that may not contain his full remarks.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Albanian police appear to use rubber bullets as student-led protests enter fifth day
Albanian police fired what appeared to be rubber bullets during clashes in Tirana on Saturday, the fifth day of student-led protests demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
Reuters footage showed an officer firing a shotgun toward crowds outside the Education Ministry, while reporters found rubber pellets at the scene. Two Reuters journalists and several protesters were struck and left with round marks. Police chief Skender Hita did not deny that rubber bullets had been used, saying all measures were employed “in a limited manner, including the most recent ones.”
The protests have drawn thousands of people angered by alleged government corruption, high education costs, poor university conditions and limited job prospects. Demonstrators have also opposed plans for a luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner on part of Albania’s southern coastline. The unrest grew from months of largely peaceful demonstrations and has spread from the capital to other cities.
Protesters have thrown rocks, broken windows and set fire to rubbish bins, banks and government buildings. Police have responded with tear gas and water cannon, and authorities said 160 people were detained over alleged violence on Thursday.
Rama, whose government denies corruption, has rejected demands that he step down while saying he is prepared to discuss education costs and other legitimate concerns. On Friday, he blamed opposition figures and unspecified “foreign hands” for fueling the violence to obstruct Albania’s effort to join the European Union. He provided no evidence for that allegation in the reported remarks.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →