Protesters shout words such as "get out, get out" as they gather outside Conservative Prime Minister Berisha's office in the capital. Other protesters carry red-and-black Albanian flags.

A tense calm has returned to the streets of Tirana. But the leader of the Socialist Party, Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, says the opposition will hold more demonstrations after observing a day of mourning for those who died.

Rama has made clear he does not want to wait till the scheduled elections in 2013. He says the opposition will not tolerate what he calls "an intolerable regime" of thieves ruling Europe's poorest nation.

The stand-off has underscored international concerns over the country's democratic credentials. The European Union already rejected Albania's application to become an official candidate to join the organization, saying it should first fight corruption and establish a functioning democracy.