Nearly 300 people, including more than 150 police officers, were injured during violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters in the Albanian capital, Tirana.

Protesters threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks and stones at security personnel, while riot police deployed water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

The clashes follow months of demonstrations fueled by corruption allegations, demands for improved university conditions and calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.

Rama responded by emphasizing that protesting is a legitimate right but that violence constitutes a criminal offense.