Albanians were casting ballots on Sunday to elect mayors and city councils, or parliaments, amid a tense political conflict with the opposition boycotting the municipal elections.

While the Socialist-run government is insisting on holding the election, the opposition wants to stop it taking place.

The opposition, led by the centre-right Democratic Party, blames a corrupt government linked to organised crime and is demanding fresh national elections.

Albania‘s President Ilir Meta is sympathetic to the opposition and declared that the vote is cancelled, but the government under Prime Minister Edi Rama has refused to abide by that decision.

Votes will be cast to pick authorities that will run 61 districts across the country for the next four years.

Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Show all 15 1 /15 Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Protests against the government in Albania turned violent on Sunday when some protesters began throwing firecrackers and other projectiles. AFP/Getty Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests As opposition party leader Lulzim Basha gave a speech to protesters outside the parliament in Tirana, some of those in the crowd began to hurl firecrackers, smoke bombs and flares at the government building. EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Ten police officers and at least three other people were injured in the confrontation which saw the police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse a group of protesters who were advancing towards the parliament. EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Prime Minister Edi Rama has faced repeated calls to stand down in recent months over claims that his centre-left Socialist Party is corrupt and has links to organised crime. EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests The opposition - fronted by Basha's Democratic Party - has staged protests in the capital every week since mid-February calling for Rama to stand down and for a transitional government to hold a general election. EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests “The whole of our battle is for a free and fair election, for European values,” said Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha. Reuters Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Western powers including the EU and US have pleaded with the protesters to avoid violence and instead pursue talks with the leading party to resolve the matter. Reuters Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Supporters of the opposition throw firecrackers towards riot police outside the parliament building during a protest in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests A supporter of the opposition throws back a tear gas to riot police outside the parliament building in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests An opposition protester holds flares in a protest outside the parliament building in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Opposition protesters hold flares in a protest outside the parliament building in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Riot police form a line to block protesters outside the parliament building in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests An opposition protester faces the police line outside the parliament building in Tirana EPA Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests An opposition protester walks towards the police line outside the parliament building in Tirana AP Violent clashes in Albania anti-government protests Firecrackers explode at the feet of riot police outside the parliament building in Tirana Reuters

On late Saturday the Democratic Party’s leader, Lulzim Basha, called on Albanians to boycott the vote and said they would hold non-violent protests. Police have said protests are not allowed the voting day.

Mr Rama cast his ballot in Surrel, a village near Tirana where he lives.

“This day confirms that no one can play with the people ... and who dares take sovereignty from the people finds no other end but a failing and a shameful one,” he told journalists.

The opposition has been holding anti-government protests since mid-February when they also relinquished their seats in parliament.

They say the political crisis will be resolved when Mr Rama resigns and vote-riggers are jailed.

Small groups of opposition supporters in Tirana and a nearby town rallied in front of some polling stations, shouting “Rama go!”

The ruling Socialists are the only candidates in 35 out of 61 districts, with some smaller leftist and centre-right parties running against them in the rest.

Thousands of police officers guarded the polling stations Sunday. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said it was sending 174 election observers, who will give their preliminary findings on Monday.

Audrey Glover, head of the international monitoring mission, found the situation at a Tirana polling station “not conducive to observing”.

Albanian union leaders fight on live TV

Holding a free and fair election is considered key for the launch of EU membership talks for the tiny Western Balkan country, already a NATO member.

Voting ends at 5pm GMT. Preliminary election results are not expected until Monday.

The Central Election Commission, the institution running the election, said turnout at 11am (10am BST) was about 12 percent.