(9 Mar 1997) Natural Sound
The funeral has taken place of a young man killed by a stray bullet in southern Albania.
The twenty-four-year-old was shot by his younger brother with a gun looted from an army barracks in Gjirokastra, the latest town to fall into rebel hands.
Heavily armed, the rebels are consolidating their position in the south, despite further government concessions.
Gjirokastra mourned and celebrated Sunday, the day after the southern town fell into rebel hands.
A grieving crowd gathered for the funeral of a 24-year-old man.
Stefan Muci was shot accidentally by his 11-year-old brother with a gun looted from the fleeing government army.
A large crowd of people turned out to pay their last respects.
Many carried arms looted during the fall of the town.
And for a young man killed by a stray bullet, a barrage of shots fired over the heads of the mourners.
The funeral aside, the rebels were celebrating the capture of the town from government forces.
Rebel tanks guarded the latest jewel in the militants' crown -- a government helicopter captured Saturday when the town fell.
They stormed the army garrison and used tanks they had seized previously to take control of its military airport.
The thousand or so soldiers guarding the base, one of the largest in the country, quickly switched allegiance.
Some watched and applauded as the looting began.
Rebels and residents of the town -- hometown of former Albania dictator Enver Hoxha -- wasted no time in gathering up captured weapons.
People of all ages, from 10 to 80, were seen carrying away automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, uniforms, helmets and anything else that was not bolted down.
A stream of cars, trucks and donkeys, all loaded with ammunition, could be seen leaving the army base.
Residents believe the government had planned to use the town as a base of operations against Saranda to the west and Tepelena to the north.
They say two generals taken into custody were carrying government plans detailing the proposed base.
Random gunfire has claimed victims other than Stefan Muci.
A 14-year-old boy was also killed by a stray bullet.
And others have been injured.
Anarchy reigns now in Gjirokastra.
Despite a live television address by President Berisha in which he caved into demands for elections and a broad based caretaker government, rebels have vowed to fight on.
They have said they will not lay down arms until Berisha meets their principal demand to resign.
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9 сен 2024
