Germany's secret service has been spying on Albania for years to keep tabs on "organized crime", Der Spiegel claimed on Saturday, days after it was revealed that Berlin had been eavesdropping on Turkey.

In a report to be published Sunday, the German weekly says that even before Albania joined NATO in 2009, it was on the BND intelligence service's list of "key states" to monitor.

Albanian police said Monday they arrested 16 suspects thought to be involved in trafficking people to the United States.

The group allegedly charged more than 50 Albanian citizens $20,000 (14,500 euros) each to take them to Mexico, providing them with false documents there to enter the United States, police and prosecution said.

Albanian police have seized more than two tonnes of cannabis en route to Italy and arrested a Macedonian truck driver.

The drugs, seized overnight Monday at the central Adriatic port of Durres, were wrapped up in plastic bags and hidden in furniture, police said in a statement.

Albanian police on Tuesday arrested seven people suspected of "acts of terrorism related to Syria" that include allegedly recruiting and training volunteer fighters, justice officials said.

The seven were arrested in various locations in the capital Tirana and several other Albanian towns and police seized a large quantity of ammunition, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Despite the political deadlock in Lebanon, officials including Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat are gearing up to head to foreign countries.

Jumblat had pointed out in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that he has been “reincarnated before his death... and I will be in China currently until a breakthrough is achieved.”

Albania Friday rejected a U.S. request to host the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, in a new setback for the internationally-backed disarmament plan three weeks after Norway also said no.

"It is impossible for Albania to take part in such an operation... as it has no capacity" to carry out such a task, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told reporters.

Several hundred people protested on Thursday in the capital Tirana and number of other towns across Albania against the possible destruction of Syrian chemical weaponry on its soil as requested by Washington.

"The parliament will not make any decision that could endanger lives and the well-being of (Albanian) citizens and the country," Ilir Meta, chairman of the assembly, told protesters in front of the parliament building in Tirana.

The EU justice mission on Friday charged 15 former Kosovo rebel fighters for alleged war crimes including murder and torture committed during the 1998-1999 war with Serbian forces.

The identities of the defendants were not revealed, but local media reported that they include former KLA commander Sylejman Selimi, who is now Kosovo's ambassador to Albania, and Sami Lushtaku, mayor of northern town Srbica and a top official in Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's ruling party.

Albania confirmed Thursday it was asked by the U.S. to destroy Syria's chemical arsenal on its soil, as protesters gathered outside the parliament in Tirana to demonstrate against any such plans.

"We were contacted by the United States, but no decision has been made yet," parliamentary speaker Ilir Meta said late Thursday in an interview to Top Channel television.

Protesters gathered outside the Albanian parliament in the capital Tirana on Thursday to demonstrate against any potential plans for the country to destroy Syria's chemical arsenal on its soil.

Chanting "No to chemical arms", the activists pleaded with the Albanian government to resist any requests from foreign governments to help eliminate Syrian weapons in Albania.