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Albania minister quits over blast Albania minister quits over blast
(about 5 hours later)
Albanian Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu has resigned following a series of fatal explosions at an arms dump near the Albanian capital, Tirana.Albanian Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu has resigned following a series of fatal explosions at an arms dump near the Albanian capital, Tirana.
The blasts killed at least 11 people and injured nearly 300. Twelve people are still missing, officials said. The blasts killed 16 people and injured nearly 300. Ten are still missing, Health Minister Nard Ndoka said.
More than 300 buildings in the area were completely destroyed after the explosion at the site where workers were dismantling old munitions. More than 300 buildings were destroyed as shells rained down on nearby villages from the site where workers had been dismantling old munitions.
Albania has about 100,000 tons of ammunition from communist times. Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ordered an investigation into the blasts.
Mr Mediu's resignation comes amid calls from Albania's opposition leader for the government to stand down. He said Mr Mediu's resignation was "an act of political responsibility" for the string of blasts, which started on Saturday and lasted for several hours.
"I ask the prime minister and the defence minister to stop making excuses, help families bury their dead and offer them financial assistance," said Edi Rama, leader of the opposition Socialist Party. But Mr Berisha shrugged off opposition calls for his own resignation as an attempt to exploit the disaster for political purposes.
"In the next few days, they [should] send their resignation [to] the president," he added. Emergency zone
Mr Berisha said the explosions, which happened during work to destroy 100,000 tonnes of excess ammunition stockpiled during Albania's communist past, were an accident.
In pictures: Albania blasts'Shrapnel falling from sky'In pictures: Albania blasts'Shrapnel falling from sky'
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ordered the country's chief prosecutor to oversee investigations into the blasts. The village of Gerdec adjoining the base some 10klm (six miles) outside Tirana has been declared an emergency zone, and Mr Berisha promised aid for those who had lost their homes.
The village of Gerdec adjoining the base has been declared an emergency zone, and Mr Berisha promised aid for villagers who had lost their homes.
"As soon as the damage is fully assessed, the government will commit all its resources to quickly react and rebuild the totally destroyed zone," he said."As soon as the damage is fully assessed, the government will commit all its resources to quickly react and rebuild the totally destroyed zone," he said.
Nato membership But Edi Rama, leader of the opposition Socialist Party, said that was not enough.
"I ask the prime minister and the defence minister to stop making excuses, help families bury their dead and offer them financial assistance," he said.
"In the next few days, they [should] send their resignation [to] the president," he added.
Albanian military experts were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help them dispose of surplus munitions.Albanian military experts were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help them dispose of surplus munitions.
There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts.
Destroying the old munitions is one of the conditions Albania must fulfil to become a member of Nato.Destroying the old munitions is one of the conditions Albania must fulfil to become a member of Nato.
Along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania hopes to be invited to join the Western military alliance at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest early next month.Along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania hopes to be invited to join the Western military alliance at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest early next month.