ALBANIA: TIRANA: SUPPORTERS MOURN DEATH OF AZEM HAJDARI

(14 Sep 1998) Natural Sound Violence continued for a second day in the streets of Tirana, as Democratic party supporters mourned the death of opposition leader Azem Hajdari. Hajdari's assassination has triggered riots and gunfire outside the Interior Ministry and the residence of socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano. In Tirana, there was little sign Monday of police or any government authority. Thousands turned out for the memorial service on Sunday of murdered opposition leader Azem Hajdari in Tirana's famous Skanderberg Square. Mourners filed past the coffins of Hajdari and other two men who were killed on Saturday in front of the Democrat Party headquarters. Former President and ally Sali Berisha also arrived to pay his respects to the families of the slain men. No one has yet admitted responsibility for the murders, but Berisha has blamed the socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano for the killings. On Monday, the coffins of the men killed were carried away amidst chanting crowds... Hajdari is considered a hero of the anti-communist revolution. Monday's service turned violent when protesters carried the bodies of the slain men to the office of Prime Minister Fatos Nano. Thousands of mourners scattered in terror as guards inside the main government building began firing at them. Government tanks patrolled the streets with the turmoil threatening a repeat of massive riots that swept the country last year. The riots followed the collapse of pyramid investment schemes that cost many Albanians their entire life savings. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...