The Albanian parliament lifted the immunity from prosecution of the opposition Democratic Party leader, Mr Sali Berisha, yesterday, clearing the way for him to be charged with attempting a coup.
The Socialist-led coalition of the Prime Minister, Mr Fatos Nano, has accused Mr Berisha, a former president, of trying to overthrow the government during unrest last Monday caused by the murder of a senior Democratic politician, Mr Azem Hajdari.
"Parliament decided to lift Berisha's immunity and to let the prosecutor start a criminal case against him," Speaker Skender Gjinushi announced after the vote.
"Any arrest is up to prosecutors. If they think it is OK to continue, they might arrest him."
Out of 113 members participating in the vote, 108 voted in favour of removing Mr Berisha's immunity.
The Democrats have been boycotting parliament since July, but the government had enough votes in the 155-seat chamber to pass the motion even if they had been present.
Under Albanian law Mr Berisha faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted of attempting to overthrow the government. He has dismissed the allegation as fantasy.
Before the vote, the former president led a peaceful march of about 3,000 people in Tirana's Skanderbeg Square, continuing his week of protest.
To loud cheers, he renewed his call for Mr Nano's resignation.
"We shall make no bargains with the blood of the unforgettable Azem Hajdari and with the false charges directed against us," he told the crowd.
"We decided to call on Albanians to rise in a powerful protest until this clique is ousted from power. We ask you to stand ready for the most sublime sacrifices. This non-violent movement will defeat this dictatorship."
There was no obvious police presence in the square, but a convoy of police and military vehicles had earlier made a show of force in the area.
Demonstrators carried Albanian flags and posters reading "Prime Minister Nano - mastermind of political murders". Some chanted "Death to communists".
Mr Berisha, who blames the Nano government for Mr Hajdari's murder, told the crowd that police had set up road-blocks on a main road into Tirana to prevent protesters from joining the rally.
Tirana erupted in the worst violence in 18 months last Sunday and Monday. Five people were killed and dozens injured in clashes with police during the unrest.
Mr Berisha has staged rallies in Tirana every day this week demanding the government's resignation and the appointment of a transitional government of technocrats.
Yesterday's rally marked the first anniversary of a previous attempt on Mr Hajdari's life, in which he was shot and seriously wounded in parliament by a Socialist deputy.
President Rexhep Meidani and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) earlier appealed for calm.
Meanwhile, Mr Bronislaw Geremek, chairman of the OSCE, will lead a high-level delegation to Albania today, it was announced in Vienna yesterday. Officials from the Council of Europe will be part of the team.
An OSCE communique said Mr Geremek, who is also Polish Foreign Minister, was worried by the developments in Albania and determined to show the international community's commitment to stability and progress in that country.
Mr Geremek will be accompanied by the Greek European Affairs Minister, Mr Giorgios Papandreou.
The aim of this visit is to send a message to the Albanian government and opposition to restore stability, political co-operation and efficient management of the country, the communique explained.