Up to 12 Albanians had reportedly been killed when thousands broke through security patrols at the Albanian port of Durres on Aug. 7.

All Albanian ports were placed under military control from Aug. 9.

Further possible military measures to exert pressure on the rebels, like a NATO naval blockade of major Albanian ports, were still under study, he said.

Around 150,000 Serbian troops gathered in different Albanian ports and were evacuated by Allied ships to the island of Korfu.

By 1:30 pm on the first day, all Albanian ports were in Italian hands.

But about an hour from the Albanian port of Durres they started to stir and were willing to share their personal stories with a visitor.

Italy partly sealed off the flow when it struck an agreement in 1998 with Albania to prevent the use of Albanian ports for illegal sailings.

The grain had been promised in July, but the limited capacity of Albanian ports had proved a problem.

Last Saturday, two rubber rafts collided as they left the Albanian port of Vlore, about 45 miles away across the Adriatic.

Russia initially agreed to avoid territorial changes, but later in 1912 supported Serbia's demand for an Albanian port.