Riot police beat path to Club Med

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian police in riot gear have clubbed their way through a blockade of villagers protesting
against the developers of a Club Med resort whom they accuse of ignoring their claim to ownership of the land.

News reports and telephone interviews from the area said a developers' bulldozer was used to scatter protesters
trying to block the way into Kakome Bay, site of the approved tourist village.

"The bulldozer broke their ranks and then the police beat them up in beastly way," a villager said by phone. More
than a dozen villagers, including their elected leader, Vladimir Kumi, were arrested. An unspecified number were
hurt.

Top Channel cameraman Ilir Gjini told Reuters said he was punched several times by police who broke his
camera during the 4-hour confrontation. Village women stoned police and were beaten in return, witnesses said.

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