Albania rejects request to destroy Syrian weapons

Albania on Friday rejected a request from the United States for the tiny impoverished Balkan nation to host the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, a major blow to international efforts to destroy the arsenal by mid-2014.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Edi Rama said it was "impossible for Albania to take part in this operation." The announcement was greeted by a loud cheer from some 2,000 protesters camped outside Rama's office who opposed the plan to dismantle the weapons in Albania. (AP)