LONDON The group of eight major powers on Saturday urged the International Community to help Albania overcome the effects of last year's near total breakdown in law and order. G8 foreign ministers said in a statement issued after two days of talks in London that the Albanian government and people were however ultimately responsible for rebuilding their country. Near anarchy reigned in poverty-stricken Albania in the early months of 1997 when angry citizens stole guns from army barracks following the collapse of Fraudulent Pyramid savings schemes.

We pledge our full support to helping Albania recover from the unrest of last year, and encourage the international financial institutions and other international agencies to assist in this progress, the G8 foreign ministers' communique said. We reiterate that ultimate responsibility rests with the Albanians themselves and urge all sides government and opposition to work together to this end. (Reuter)