Rebels reply to Macedonia claims

Trajokski, right, dressed in army fatigues for his frontline tour

KUMANOVO, Macedonia -- Fighting has flared in northern Macedonia just after the president said ethnic Albanian rebels had been prevented from causing chaos there.

President Boris Trajkovski toured army front lines on Saturday, pledging to resolve the crisis caused by the rebel insurrection "both politically and militarily."

"Our greatest victory has already been achieved: the intentions of the terrorists to create a catastrophe have been thwarted," he said.

Shortly after Trajkovski left, machine-gun fire resounded north of the city from the direction of the rebel stronghold Slupcane, followed by heavy artillery, Associated Press said.

Army spokesman Colonel Blagoja Markovski blamed the rebels for the fighting.

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He said the army responded with artillery barrages.

Despite the latest fighting, Interior Minister Ljuben Boskovski maintained that government promises of moderation against the rebels would be kept.

"We will crush terrorism with the minimum of violence and casualties -- all in accordance with standards of the civilized world," Boskovski told AP.

U.S. President George Bush welcomed the promises for restraint, praising Trajkovski's "intentions to make the country a model multiethnic democracy."

The Macedonian government initially threatened to "eliminate" the rebels unless they accepted a deadline of noon on Thursday to give up their armed struggle.

AUDIO Macedonian President, Boris Trajkovski urges troops to remain calm 295 Kb/27 secs. AIFF or WAV sound

But under intense pressure from the U.S., the European Union and NATO, the government later promised restraint.

Macedonia's foreign allies, fearing that a major offensive could widen tensions in the region, have urged the Skopje government to push for negotiation rather than fighting.

All the major Slav and ethnic Albanian parties formed a unity government last weekend pledging to find a political solution to Albanian demand for more rights in the Slav-dominated country. Ethnic Albanians make up about one-third of Macedonia's 2 million people.

The rebels, who started fighting in February, have demanded that Macedonia's constitution be rewritten to upgrade their people's minority status. The government accuses them of attempting to divide the country.

Earlier in the day, Markovski expressed concern over the well-being of as many as 7,000 ethnic Albanians believed trapped in villages north of Kumanovo.

The government claims the rebels are using the villagers as "human shields" to stave off a heavier onslaught by the government.

The rebels -- and villagers who fled their homes during pauses in fighting -- deny that.