(21 Apr 1997) English/Nat
Hundreds of Italian troops moved into the southern Albanian port town of Vlore, Monday, to an enthusiastic welcome from thousands of townspeople.
The 650 Italians arrived by land and sea, in armoured personnel carriers that rolled off a transport vessel.
Other armoured vehicles, trucks and jeeps came overland from the north.
Vlore, the cradle of Albania's six-week insurrection, is one the country's most violent areas.
But all was peaceful on Monday, as hundreds of residents gathered at the port to welcome the latest contingent of international troops.
Thousands more assembled in the town's main square.
Since Thursday, Italian soldiers have made brief, daily visits to Vlore, but have delayed setting up camp in the city where the nightly curfew is pierced by gunfire.
About 120 Greek soldiers also arrived, moving south from Fier.
Another 520 Greek soldiers, the last and largest Greek contingent, set sail from the port of Salonica Monday.
They are to arrive in the Albanian port of Durres Wednesday.
More than 4-thousand of the 6-thousand troops from eight European countries were already in Albania by Monday preparing to deploy or already in place to protect aid shipments.
The force will attempt to secure aid deliveries in the country and to restore some normality, after the collapse of pyramid schemes led to widespread unrest.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
20 июл 2015
