Forces Put The Squeeze On New Albanian Premier Bashkim Fino Resisting Pressure From Insurgents, Berisha Loyalists

Albania’s new premier was caught in the middle Thursday between heavily armed southern insurgents who want President Sali Berisha ousted and supporters of the president who have vowed to stop the rebels.

As Prime Minister Bashkim Fino’s new coalition government tried to assert its authority, there also was concern that Berisha was scheming to consolidate his own power.

Fino has reportedly resisted Berisha’s attempts to direct the workings of the new government - and has refused insurgents’ demands that Berisha step down before elections, to be held by June.

The newly appointed Socialist leader has announced twice that he would go south to push his plan for national reconciliation with the leaders of 12 rebel-controlled districts - and both times canceled the trip without giving a reason.

The latest postponement came after the shadowy Committee for National Salvation warned Wednesday it would mobilize thousands of supporters to fight those who insist on Berisha’s removal. Militant supporters of Berisha’s Democratic Party are suspected to be behind the group.

In other signs of a power struggle, the Democratic-controlled legislature has refused to transfer authority over state radio and television from the parliament to the government. It also rejected a government bill to allow newspapers to start publishing again without censorship.

Southern rebels who fomented the unrest that began in January over the collapse of high-risk investment schemes repeated their call for Berisha to go, but softened the demand with a promise not to go to war.

Officials in Rome said Fino was to meet with the European Union’s 15 foreign ministers in that city on Tuesday to discuss an end to the civil conflict.

As for the rebels, they were to meet today in Tepelena, 100 miles south of Tirana, to chart their next moves.

Although rebels have formed local councils to oversee their regions, anarchy still gripped the south Thursday.

At least two people were reported killed in Korca in fights between opposing groups of armed looters, bringing the toll to 26 dead in eight days of violence there.

British security forces helped evacuate 22 children Thursday from an orphanage run by a British couple in Elbasani.