Armed citizens kill one, wound two Albanian special forces in operation

Albanian special forces' officers were attacked by armed local citizens during an operation in southern Albanian Lazarat village on Wednesday during which one officer were shot dead and two others were wounded, Albanian state police said.

According to the state police, the bloody clash has taken place in the early hours of Wednesday, following the entry of a group of special forces -- department of elimination and neutralization of armed elements (RENEA) for an operation in the village.

From one of the houses in the village, one of the residents has opened fire toward the special police forces.

Police officer Ibrahim Basha, 31, lost his life and two others remained seriously wounded, and were immediately transported to the hospital of Gjirokaster.

State police have then engaged more than 400 forces from RENEA, rapid intervention force and local police in an operation to capture the suspects who opened fire against RENEA forces.

In a press release the state police say: "roughly 21 citizens have been identified as the main suspects in the armed assault against police forces. They are reportedly moving inside the village of Lazarat."

State police appeal to these citizens to surrender themselves to law-enforcement authorities. It also issues another appeal to the locals and representatives of local government in Lazarat to cooperate with police forces in the operation to bring those responsible to justice.

State police reiterate its firm stand on strict law enactment until the armed gang be captured or eliminated in case its members resist the police forces by opening fire.

Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri, who is in Gjirokaster right now, has appealed to the residents of Lazarat to cooperate with state police to bring those responsible to justice.

Tahiri has responded to the media over the tragedy in Lazarat, saying the perpetrators will be brought to justice, according to Albanian telegraphic agency. Endit