Macedonia renews rebel bombardment

The fighting has prompted thousands to flee Macedonia

TETOVO, Macedonia -- Macedonia has renewed its bombardment of suspected ethnic Albanian guerrilla positions, despite international calls for restraint.

The army used tank and heavy machine-gun fire near the north-western town of Tetovo on Saturday, hours after European Union leaders at a summit in Sweden urged Macedonia to "prevent an escalation of military activity."

A Macedonian interior ministry spokesman said the bombardment was in response to a guerrilla attack on police position in a Slav district of the town with mortar. Four Macedonian Slav civilians were taken to hospital with injuries.

"They tried to hit our police point near the church but according to our information they hit a civilian target," spokesman Stevo Pendarovski said.

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At another flashpoint closer to the capital Skopje, tank and mortar fire were heard near the village of Gracani.

All country roads into the area were sealed off by heavily-armed police roadblocks. A truckload of troops headed to the scene, but reporters were turned back by police who said it was dangerous to go there.

The rebels, branded by Macedonia as terrorists, say they are fighting to improve the lot of all ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, where they make up about a third of the population.

Macedonian forces have been pounding the hills above Tetovo for more than a week in an effort to evict the guerrillas, who military analysts say number just a few hundred.

The United Nations estimates that up to 20,000 people have fled Macedonia and moved into neighbouring areas.

Western leaders have given their full backing to the Macedonian government, but have warned Skopje to exercise military restraint and tackle ethnic Albanians' grievances.

Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, who met with EU leaders in Stockholm on Friday, ruled out negotiating with the rebels.

In a statement issued at the end of a two-day conference, the 15 EU leaders said: "We reaffirm our solidarity with (the Macedonian leadership) in the current crisis and urge you to continue to respond with restraint.

"Every effort should be made to prevent an escalation of military activity.

"Effective internal political reforms and consolidation of a true multi-ethnic society are indispensable."

They said the EU would provide help in areas such as border management, aid for refugees and judicial reform and training.

The EU leaders also urged ethnic Albanian leaders in Macedonia and neighbouring Kosovo to use political means to end the conflict, rather than violence.

"To the Albanian political leaders in Kosovo, we call on you to continue to dissociate yourselves unambiguously from the extremists, to condemn violence unconditionally and to respect the principle of the inviolability of borders," they said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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EU backs Macedonia over rebels
March 23, 2001
Two killed in Macedonia clash
March 22, 2001
Bombing resumes in Macedonia
March 22, 2001
Macedonia rebels declare ceasefire
March 21, 2001
Macedonia prepares for new assault
March 20, 2001

Macedonian Government
European Union
NATO
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