Thousands of young Albanians protested in Tirana and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The demonstrators clashed with the police

Thousands of young Albanians protested in central Tirana on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama on the fifth consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations. The protests, triggered by grievances over corruption and a lack of jobs, have spread to several regions of the country.

The demonstration outside the Ministry of Education descended into violence after several masked youths threw stones at law enforcement officers. Police used stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons, while protesters threw Molotov cocktails. In recent days, windows have been smashed and government buildings set on fire.

According to police, approximately 500 people have been detained since the protests began, of whom 330 have been released. In the clashes, 120 police officers and 45 demonstrators were injured, although the number of injured protesters could be higher.

The student movement is the most serious challenge to date for Edi Rama, who has been prime minister since 2013 and was re-elected last year for a fourth term. The protests were preceded by demonstrations against a luxury tourism project backed by investors, including Jared Kushner. Rama rejects the accusations and says he has no intention of resigning.