In the last months of the Presidency, Berisha had created an open conflict with the Haklaj family from Tropoja, with whom he had once had a friendship. Clashes created by inter-tribal politics cost Tropoja over 150 victims.
“The balance of victims in our family and tribe is 14 people. The main responsibility of all the victims is Sali Berisha and only Sali Berisha “said Zylfije Haklaj, Sister of Haklaj.
Among the victims in the Tropoja series was the leader of the December movement, MP Azem Hajdari. He was to be executed by Fatmir Haklaj near the Democratic Party headquarters on September 12, 1998. The suspicions were great that he was ambushed from inside the blue headquarters. “There is no connection after Izet Haxhia, nor the Haxhia brothers, no person, the connection was with Azemi who went to the car, Saliu who is the main person forced him to go out to Fatmir Haklaj” said Zylfije Haklaj, Sister of Haklaj.
“Berisha himself did not tell him, but he told Genc Pollo. It turns out they are your friends. Since Azemi was held as the tough part of the democratic party and it was up to him to deal with this problem. They had 4 hours waiting in the car, they knew very well who they were. Two cars could not stay in front of the PD for 4 hours, while there were only PD people around. “Azem’s main fault was that he opposed Berisha,” said Fatos Klosi, former head of SHIK
Azem Hajdari’s funeral on September 14, 1998, turned into a coup. When the procession with Hajdari’s dead body approached the Prime Minister, the crowd started firing Kalashnikovs at the government headquarters. The militants raided the Prime Minister’s Office, the boulevard departments and the Public Radio and Television. A tank accompanying the armed group was also robbed by the guard. Democrat leader Berisha followed everything from the blue headquarters.
Once again, Berisha faced strong international controversy. Western chancelleries made it clear that they would not recognize any power coming out of violence. In the afternoon, those who poured guns occupying the institutions withdrew very quickly after the international messages.
