Albania's PM warns violent protests threaten the country's EU membership bid, not his government

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama has denounced the ongoing mass protests as a danger to the country's path into the European Union rather than to his administration, as student-led crowds continue to torch government buildings and banks and hurl ripped-up paving stones at police in Tirana. Officers have responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. Anger over corruption, scarce jobs, poor schooling and living costs has spread to other cities. The unrest follows summer protests against a coastal resort backed by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Rama asked Albanians in a Facebook address: 'Do they want this... or do they want the EU?'

He also blamed 'outside forces' for using the demonstrations against his government.

A Gen Z lawmaker has turned on Rama and backed the protesters.

Excavators tore up the paving outside his office while he spoke, before a fresh wave of protests.