Senior Albanian military officials fired over Gerdec tragedy

11/05/2008

TIRANA, Albania -- Two senior military officials were fired on Saturday (May 10th) at the request of Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa. He said the officials -- Major General Shpetim Spahiu, who commanded the Albanian joint force, and General Zija Bahja, who commanded the logistics operations in the army -- had information that could have prevented the deadly May 15th blasts at a munitions disposal plant in Gerdec. Twenty-six people were killed and around 300 injured as a result of the explosion. (A1, Makfax, Netpress, Tanjug, Balkanweb, Gazeta Shqiptare - 10/05/08)