The final mystery

摘要

A Muddy crater marks the spot near Tirana airport where a stockpile of artillery shells blew up last March. The blast killed 26 people, including several children, and injured more than 250 others. Dozens of houses in the next-door village were ruined beyond repair.rnSali Berisha, Albania's prime minister, responded by removing from office Fatmir Mediu, the defence minister. Damaged homes are being rebuilt with government handouts. But people are still angry. "This", says Fiqiri Ismaili, the mayor, "was the worst disaster since communism ended."rnFinding out who caused the explosion, and bringing the culprits to justice, is a test of Albania's credibility as a future member of nato. It would also help Mr Berisha achieve his goal of making Albania a formal candidate to join the European Union. That is because the eu's sharpest criticisms of Albania are directed at the country's judicial system. All too often, prosecutors and judges are bribed or bullied by politicians.