1 Man Killed as Albanians Rally Against Scams

TIRANA, Albania — Riot police beat demonstrators who rallied Sunday in the capital and other cities to demand that the government return money lost in pyramid schemes. A 70-year-old protester died in the rioting, opposition leaders said.

Thousands filled a square in central Tirana after two fictitious finance and charity organizations in Albania collapsed last week. More than 15% of Albania’s 3.2 million people have participated in pyramid schemes that have thrived in post-Communist Eastern Europe. Albanians say the government should have protected them from fraud.

Rioting broke out Sunday in Fieri, the opposition Socialist Party said. One protester, 70-year-old Musa Makashi, was killed after falling during clashes with police, the Socialists said. An Interior Ministry official confirmed the death, but said the man was an observer, not a protester.

Opposition leaders have accused some of the pyramid-scheme companies of financing the ruling Democrats’ campaign in May’s elections, when they won 122 of the 140 seats in parliament.

President Sali Berisha has denied government involvement. He promised Saturday that people who lost money in the schemes will be offered private and public jobs and bank credits to start businesses.