A Greek Albanian citizen has been killed in a gun battle with Albanian police officers during OXI Day on Sunday.

According to a report by Kathimerini, Konstantinos Kacifa (Katsifas), 35, shot at officers in the village of Bularat, located six kilometres from the Greek Albanian border, for taking down a Greek flag he had raised at a World War II cemetery for Greek soldiers who had died in battle.

A statement released by Albanian police claimed Mr Kacifa then proceeded to fire at approaching police cars before running to hid on a nearby mountain, where he allegedly continued to fire at officers, and according to police died in the exchange of fire, reports the Associated Press.

Mr Kacifa who was born and raised in Bularat, had recently been living in Athens, where according to reports by Albanian media he was a member of extreme right political party Golden Dawn.

At the news of his death, members of the party protested outside the Albanian Embassy, closing a major road in Athens.

Greece’s Foreign Ministry also responded sternly to the news of Mr Kacifa’s death, saying that it is “unacceptable” that the operation resulted in the loss of a human life.

“We await from Albanian authorities the complete clarification of the conditions under which the aforementioned Greek citizen lost his life and will immediately make the necessary moves,” a statement from the ministry in Athens said.

Albania’s Foreign Ministry released a statement apologising for the politicisation of the event, and that Albanian police had clarified that it was a “totally isolated event” and “a flagrant case” of aggression against Albanian police.

The statement went on to assure its neighbours that “Albania is a safe and calm country for all its citizens, including those of Greek nationality”.

Meanwhile the secretary of the Panepirotic Federation of Australia, Dean Kalymniou has contemned the actions of Albanian police against Mr Kacifa.