 On 9 February state police were attacked in Vlora and a day later, also in the south, 50 Special Forces troops attacked and brutally dispersed protesters.One of the main themes of Western media and analysts during the March riots was the north-south division.Various newspapers and TV stations claimed that the rebellion was not just a showdown between the two main political forces but a clash between the northerners (Ghegs) who supported Berisha and southerners (Tosks) who supported the Socialist Party.