Interior Ministry spokesperson Artan Bizhga said at least three Berisha supporters were killed and 14 wounded in the counterattack. Berisha remained holed up at the headquarters of his Democratic Party late yesterday.
Diplomats from the United States and European countries were seeking to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis in this impoverished Balkan country.
Many fear the unrest could spread, including to the Serbian province of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanian rebels are fighting for independence.
The violence in Tirana threatened a repeat of nationwide riots that swept Albania last year after the collapse of pyramid investment schemes that cost many people their life's savings.
The turmoil sent refugees into Italy, Greece and elsewhere in Europe.
The outcry by Muslim leaders follows last week's decision by the government to ban 16 primarily Muslim organizations for security reasons and for overstepping their permitted activities.
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