SEVERAL hundred elite Italian troops deployed by sea and land in the rebel-held Albanian port of Vlore early yesterday received a warm welcome from local residents who gathered to watch their arrival.
Wearing full battle dress, guns at the ready, some of the troops came ashore from landing craft, driving their armoured vehicles directly on to the beach. Others arrived by road in a long column of wheeled tanks and armoured personnel carriers. On the outskirts of the port, Italians from the elite 18th regiment met Greek forces at the entrance to the port to drive into Vlore together.
It was the first deployment of troops in a rebel-held part of Albania since the Italian-led multinational force began to arrive in the republic a week ago.
Several hundred local residents gathered to watch the troops disembark. Earlier they had met in the town's main square before walking to the quayside to greet the Italians. As they moved towards the Italian ships in the harbour, they chanted the name of their town in unison: "Vlore! Vlore!"
The commander of the troops in Vlore, Gen Girolamo Giglio said he was surprised by the welcome.
Meeting the young leader of Vlore's rebel committee Gen Giglio told Mr Albert Shyti. "I thank you because we have found a town that is very welcoming and I was not expecting that."
Earlier in April there was some concern over sending Italian troops into the port because of a wave of anti-Italian feeling following the sinking of an Albanian refugee ship off Italy in late March. More than 80 people died, many of them from Vlore, when their overloaded vessel collided with an Italian naval ship trying to stop it reaching Italian shores.
Vlore expelled government officials in March during violent street protests which escalated into an armed insurrection, rapidly spreading across southern Albania.
While food is available there and in other rebel towns, prices are high and security for traders not always guaranteed. One of the main tasks of the multinational force will be to protect aid deliveries to the areas. Gen Giglio said his forces would soon begin patrols of the area.