Albania: Fire at Education Ministry as students protest

Albania 's Education Ministry caught fire on Wednesday in a second day of student protests over corruption and education. The scenes were at least somewhat reminiscent of the protracted student demonstrations in France in recent weeks. They are probably the most violent outburst of low-level anti-corruption protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama 's government and the main opposition led by Sali Barisha that started in May this year. Police deployed riot police and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in the capital Tirana. Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry on Wednesday, many obscuring their faces. Some threw bricks at the building, damaged barriers on the sidewalks and overturned trash cans.