Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected a request from the United States for the tiny impoverished Balkan nation to host the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile.

Rescuers were preparing today to enter the heart of a massive blast site at an Albanian army ammunition dump, where a chain of explosions killed at least five people and injured 243.

A massive explosion at an Albanian army ammunition dump near Tirana today killed at least four people and injured 215, including many children, authorities said.

A massive explosion at an Albanian army ammunition dump near Tirana today killed at least four people and injured more than 170, including many children. The country’s prime minister said he feared there could be many dead.

A powerful explosion at an army depot near Tirana today injured more than 150 people, including many children, and damaged the city’s nearby international airport, authorities said.