About 5000 Albanians have been protesting in the country’s capital Tirana against plans for the country to be used as a base for dismantling Syrian chemical weapons.<br /><br />They carried banners and placards reading “No to sarin, Yes to oxygen, let us breathe” and “No to chemical weapons in Albania.”<br /><br />The US has asked the Albanian government to take on the job of destroying Assad’s stockpile of nerve gas with promises of financial reward in return.<br /><br />In Tirana, officials said no decision had been taken although the prime minister has indicated he is in favour.<br /><br />Albanian parliament speaker, Ilir Meta, told protestors: “This is your parliament, this is your government. No decision has been taken and will not be taken before listening to your voice and all the Albanian citizens.”<br /><br />Albania has previously dismantled its communist-era stockpiles of chemical weapons. However the destruction of weapons shells in 2008 killed 28 people.<br /><br />Albanians angry at the prospect of hosting sarin gas and other chemical weapons in their country, accuse the US of exploiting its poorer ally.
