
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310184
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TIRANA, ALBANIA                                LENGTH: Short

ALBANIAN EX-PREMIER FACES CHARGES

A former Communist premier suspected of squandering $8 million in Italian aid money was arrested Friday on abuse of power charges.

The detention of Fatos Nano came a day after parliament stripped him of immunity from prosecution. Two of Nano's former associates also were arrested, the state ATA news agency reported.

Nano, who served a three-month term in 1991-1992, has denied wrongdoing. His Socialist Party, the renamed Communists, staged a rally Friday in his support.

Thousands gathered in central Skanderbeg Square demanding his release, the resignation of the government and new elections. Many, blaming President Sali Berisha for the arrest, shouted "Hang Berisha!"

Socialist Party official Nanik Dokle denounced Nano's detention and said his party would counter the "new dictatorship" represented by Berisha's government. - Associated Press

by CNB