West faces military dilemma as Albania fragments

Western powers found themselves increasingly embroiled in Albania's anarchy yesterday as gunmen fired on US, German and Italian military forces trying to rescue Western residents. The United States was forced to suspend its evacuation efforts after two US Marine helicopters were fired on from the ground while attempting to take American nationals to safety.

Gunmen also fired shots from a police van at German troops arriving at a military airport by helicopter to bring out stranded Western citizens. The Germans shot back in what was believed to be the first time German soldiers have used weapons in anger abroad since 1945.

Amid the spreading chaos, and with almost nobody noticing, Sali Berisha effectively ceased to be president of Albania yesterday. With the whole country seemingly clamouring for his departure and all state authority supplanted by gangs of armed men, the international community chose to leave him languishing alone in his palace and tried instead to broker a solution to the crisis with Bashkim Fino, his newly appointed prime minister.

Mr Fino and ministers spent the day in talks on board an Italian warship with Franz Vranitzky, the former Austrian chancellor and special envoy for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and begged the international community to intervene.

Mr Vranitzky and other Western officials said they might consider some kind of policing operation to round up the rebels' weapons, but only under strict conditions. Mr Vranitzky said he saw no alternative to outside military intervention. "I will report that there is no alternative as far as I can see.The decision has to be taken very quickly."

An immediate military operation has been excluded by Nato, the US and the Western European Union, and any subsequent action is likely to be promoted by individual countries, not international institutions. "First we must have a government that exercises real authority.

"And secondly, any intervention must have the agreement of all parties in Albania, including the rebel commanders in Vlora and elsewhere. But we're a long way from fulfilling either condition," Italy's deputy foreign minister, Piero Fassino, said.

Diplomats said they saw Mr Fino, a member of the Socialist Party, which is bitterly opposed to Mr Berisha, as Albania's last hope.

The purpose of Mr Vranitzky's mission, they said, was to give him every possible political support and then sponsor negotiations with the rebel commanders who have ousted the state in cities across the country.

"If Fino doesn't work out, it is not clear if there will be any political authority left at all and then we will have to rethink our strategy from scratch," one European diplomatic source said.

One European diplomatic source said: "Berisha has been completely sidelined.

"As far we are concerned, Fino is the last resort and if he doesn't work out it is not clear there will be any political authority left at all."

As for Mr Berisha, he told a French reporter yesterday that he had no intention of resigning. But the pressure on him to leave the country, or face a possible public lynching, was growing. His children have already left for Italy, as has his unpopular former defence minister, Safet Zhulali. Mr Fassino said it was by no means certain they would be offered asylum.

Aid agencies prepared to send emergency supplies but said the anarchy was hindering their efforts. "There is definitely a need for emergency food and medical help," said Michael Kleiner, of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Red Cross offices and stores across Albania have been burned down and looted.

The United Nations evacuated most of its staff out of the country. Two officials from the UN Children's Fund remained behind to try to co-ordinate UN aid efforts but could not evaluate needs immediately because of the chaos.