Albanian opposition politicians throw firecrackers and chairs in parliament protest

However, the session in the 140-member chamber later went ahead and 73 Socialist lawmakers voted in favour of 21 draft laws

Opposition lawmakers set off a smoke bomb in the Albanian parliament as part of a protest (AP Photo)

Albanian opposition lawmakers on Thursday caused a commotion in parliament, trying to disrupt a session in protest against what they say is increasingly authoritarian rule by the governing Socialists.

Democratic lawmakers blocked left-wing Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama from taking their seats and stacked chairs on top of each other in the central hall.