Albanian police use teargas and water cannons on Jared Kushner resort protestors

Albanian police use teargas and water cannons on Jared Kushner resort protestors Three police officers and one protester were injured in clashes, Albanian media reported - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Albanian police deployed water cannons and teargas on Thursday in an attempt to disperse anti-government protesters outside parliament, who threw eggs and flour at officers and lawmakers. Three police officers and one protester were injured in clashes, Albanian media reported. Daily protests have been held for more than a month in Tirana over alleged corruption linked to various development projects along the coast and near protected areas. The government denies corruption. What started as a protest against a luxury resort planned by U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner spread to other projects planned along the coast. Thousands of people have already taken to the streets of the capital Tirana and on the southern coast where the resort has been proposed, calling for the project to be scrapped because of the impact on a protected wetland home to flamingoes, seals and sea turtle nesting sites. The flamingo has emerged as the movement's symbol: protesters hoist inflatable pink birds and signs saying "Flamingo Revolution". The protesters gathered on Thursday morning before a parliament session was due to start. As lawmakers entered the building, protesters threw eggs at them. Some threw eggs and flour at police officers. In early afternoon, the police used water cannons and teargas to disperse protesters. "We've been protesting and the point is?? we want transparency. We want to protect our nature," Aslan Dogjani said. "The government is corrupt." The protests are a test for Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has been in power since 2013 and who many blame for not eradicating widespread corruption or doing enough to improve basic services like healthcare. "The beautiful protest of citizenship, patriotism, and purity has now given way to the old film of conflict, strife, and violence," Rama said on X. Rama, who aims to bring Albania into the EU, takes pride in presiding over the modernisation of a country that had languished for decades under a particularly stifling communist dictatorship until the 1990s. Earlier this year, violent clashes broke out as protesters demanded the resignation of Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, over alleged corruption. Balluku was fired, but mistrust remains. A new protest is called for Saturday. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] POLICIA TOPTANI