TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The Albanian Parliament has suspended former prime minister Sali Berisha for 10 days after he urged citizens to arm themselves, accusing the government of being unable to protect them because of links to crime gangs.

Friday's decision followed Berisha's words a day earlier at a weekly parliamentary session during a discussion about a recent arrest of the leader of a criminal gang. Both of the country's main political parties accused the other of receiving assistance from criminals.

Berisha stepped down as prime minister and leader of the main opposition Democratic Party in 2013 after his center-right party was defeated in a parliamentary election.

Gun ownership is currently illegal in Albania and calls to break the law could result in up to a 10-year jail sentence.