The situation in Albania continued to degrade today as gunmen fired on U.S., German and Italian helicopters involved in evacuation procedures and rumors swelled around the capital that Albania's president, Sali Berisha, has left the country. After a report from ITN's Gaby Rado, Margaret Warner leads a discussion of the Albanian situation with Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY).
GABY RADO, ITN: For the first time in this two-week-old crisis it was the authorities' turn to put on a show of strength, and they did it in the very heart of Tirana. Firing in the air, much as their opponents have done, armed men in police armored vehicles, vans, and private cars took to the streets this afternoon. They wore plain clothes and looked no different from the people who've seized arms against President Berisha. But the message of these men was they would fight any attempt to take the capital by force of arms and would crack down on lawlessness. Their appearance, just after rumors that the President had fled were denied, was intended to show that someone was still in control. Results of the anarchy they're up against could be seen at local hospitals. Reports of the numbers killed overnight by stray bullets in the capital varied between three and 11. Two were said to be children. Between 70 and 100 were injured.
The foreigners trapped in Tirana, but not local people, salvation began to come from the skies this morning. First to appear were Italian helicopters landing on a football stadium. The desperation of the families of diplomats, business people and aid workers to get away produced chaotic scenes as too many tried to board at once. This little girl had to wait for a later flight. More controlled was the evacuation procedure of American navy helicopters, the contingent of 169 Marines. They landed inside the U.S. diplomatic compound on the outskirts of the city. It was clear the operation had been well rehearsed. Civilians were made to form orderly queues. Security searches were carried out, after which they were then ready for evacuation. The process continued throughout the morning and early afternoon.
LT. BILL DARRENKAMP, U.S. Marine Corps: In the past few hours we've reinforced our security around the perimeter of the embassy, and we evacuated approximately 250 American citizens.
GABY RADO: How concerned are you about the gunfire that can be heard all the time?
LT. BILL DARRENKAMP: Obviously, it's a concern, which is why we brought in the security element, but it's not at this time directed at the embassy.
GABY
RADO: The evacuees were to be airlifted through an American amphibious assault,
the U.S.S. Nassau, lying in the Adriatic, and from there to be transferred
to the Italian port of Grindazi. But the airlift eventually had to be suspended
in the middle of the afternoon after the helicopters were fired on from the
ground. Also in a helicopter today was the worried figure of the Albanian
prime minister of two-day standing, Bashkin Fino. He was flown for talks with
the European negotiator, Franz Vranitzky of Austria, on an Italian gunboat.
Mr. Fino, his defense minister, and chief of staff asked for an international
force of thousands of men, in their words, to prevent the break-up of Albania.
They found a measure of sympathy.
FRANZ
VRANITZKY, European Mediator: So what the real important point here is to
restore public order. The Albanian government says clearly--and I believe
them--that they cannot do it on themselves, and they need international help
and support. And I think that's what we have to give a very, very urgent thought.
GABY RADO: After the talks with the Albanian premier, Mr. Vranitzky went
on to meet 15 leaders of the insurgency in Southern Albania. The menacing
presence of armed, plain clothes security forces on the streets of Tirana
today introduces new dangers of conflict. Since they appeared this afternoon
six people have been reportedly shot dead in the capital in an iron-fist attempt
to impose law and order. President Berisha's fate is still unclear, with rumors
of his imminent flight from the country resurfacing tonight.
If he goes, it may mollify the opposition but enrage the remnants of the
old regime.
A RealAudio version of of this segment is available.
