Associated Press reports out of Albania February 24 said the municipal library and the university in Shkrodra were among the public buildings ransacked and burned in riots that broke out February 22-23 over the collapse of pyramid schemes nationwide.
Government troops stormed the city February 23 to reclaim the devastated town. Rioters also burned the court building and prosecutor's offices and broke into two banks and looted city hall, blaming the government of former president Sali Berisha for their financial ruin.
The Association Press report called the incident "some of the worst violence since June elections, when new leaders took power to try to restore order after a popular revolt that claimed at least 2,000 lives."
Posted March 2, 1998.