Albania's interior minister has resigned amid violent protests on Thursday (December 10) after police fatally shot a young man during the country's overnight curfew on Tuesday.

Klodian Rasha, 25, was shot dead near his home in the capital Tirana after not responding to police calls to stop.

An officer, who was later suspended pending an investigation, has reportedly stated that he opened fire because he believed the man had a weapon in his hands.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed he has accepted the resignation of interior minister Sander Lleshaj.

The minister had previously said police were investigating how the fatal shooting occurred and expressed his "deepest condolences for the tragic loss."

Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Albanian government buildings in the capital on Thursday for a second consecutive night.

Authorities had urged citizens to respect COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings after violent clashes on Wednesday, largely organized over social media.

State police said that 16 officers were injured, while three people were charged with various offenses including "participation in illegal gatherings", "destroying property by fire" and "disobedience to the order of public order police officer."

Albania's interior minister has resigned amid violent protests on Thursday (December 10) after police fatally shot a young man during the country's overnight curfew on Tuesday.

Klodian Rasha, 25, was shot dead near his home in the capital Tirana after not responding to police calls to stop.

An officer, who was later suspended pending an investigation, has reportedly stated that he opened fire because he believed the man had a weapon in his hands.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed he has accepted the resignation of interior minister Sander Lleshaj.

The minister had previously said police were investigating how the fatal shooting occurred and expressed his "deepest condolences for the tragic loss".

Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Albanian government buildings in the capital on Thursday for a second consecutive night.

Authorities had urged citizens to respect COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, after violent clashes on Wednesday, largely organised over social media.

State police said that 16 officers were injured, while three people were charged with various offenses including "participation in illegal gatherings", "destroying property by fire" and "disobedience to the order of public order police officer".

Many threw stones and flares at police while trying to force their way into the interior ministry, while others also damaged festive decorations at the main Skanderbeg Square.

Police have reiterated that gatherings of more than 10 people are banned in Albania as the authorities imposed several lockdown measures to prevent a surge of new cases of the coronavirus.