
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 8, 1990                   TAG: 9007080080
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIENNA, AUSTRIA                                LENGTH: Short

ALBANIA OUSTS HARD-LINERS ON CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Thousands of Albanians crowding into foreign embassies in hopes of fleeing their hard-line Communist homeland will be allowed to emigrate under foreign supervision, diplomats said Saturday.

Also Saturday, the government announced a shake-up of the ruling Politburo and Central Committee. It replaced several hard-liners, including the police minister.

About 5,000 people are sheltered in missions in the Albanian capital of Tirana, diplomats said.

Hungarian diplomats said the logistics of the emigration had not been worked out, but ambassadors were told by Albanian Foreign Ministry officials their personnel could supervise the issuing of travel documents and accompany emigres out of the country.

"A solution has been found," Hungarian Ambassador Mihaly Kornidesz told state radio in Budapest. "Passports will be issued, and embassy personnel will be allowed to oversee . . . safe passage out."

Austria's APA news agency said thousands of protesters gathered near embassy row Saturday to show their opposition to the hard-line Communist regime. No violence was reported.

Reacting to the unrest, the policy-setting Central Committee of the Communist Party dismissed a Politburo member, retired three other politicians and relieved Police Minister Simon Stefani of his position, the state news agency ATA reported.

The changes appeared to reflect the power of Communist leader Ramiz Alia and his efforts to reform Albania's Communist system.

by CNB