Protesters reportedly threw Molotov cocktails and flares, prompting police to respond. Clashes also erupted near the parliament building.

Police in Tirana, Albania, used water cannons and tear gas against protesters outside Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office on Tuesday, as demonstrators called for his resignation over a major corruption scandal.

Protesters reportedly threw Molotov cocktails and flares, prompting police to respond. Clashes also erupted near the parliament building.

At least 16 people were injured and hospitalized, while 13 were arrested. Reports differ on whether the injured were protesters, police, or both.

The protest is part of a series of antigovernment demonstrations in recent months.

Public discontent has grown since November, when prosecutors accused Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku also the minister of energy and infrastructure of interfering in government construction contracts.

She was briefly suspended but reinstated at Rama’s request.

Demonstrators are demanding the removal of both Rama and Balluku and want parliament to lift Balluku’s immunity to allow prosecution.

Over 1,300 police were deployed for the rally, held just two weeks after another violent protest organized by Sali Berisha, leader of the opposition Democratic Party and former prime minister.

Berisha described the protests as a “peaceful uprising,” despite having faced corruption charges himself.

Political analyst Mentor Kikia told the Associated Press that distrust toward both the ruling and opposition parties remains high.

“Citizens are distrustful, having consistently voted for the lesser evil to remove the greater evil from power,” he said. “The current perception is that if Rama leaves, Berisha will return. One left power because of corruption, the other must also leave power because of corruption.”

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