Albanian rejects Macedonian plan

Leotard says draft plan is basis for more negotiations

TETOVO, Macedonia -- Leaders of Macedonia's Albanian minority have rejected a Western-backed plan to revive deadlocked peace talks as inadequate.

The Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) vowing on Sunday to press for a better deal when negotiations resume on Monday.

The stance clouded optimism expressed by U.S. and European Union envoys that a proposal on political reforms they presented on Saturday would form the basis of efforts to end a 20-week-old Albanian guerrilla rebellion by improving minority rights.

"I didn't start the war, I want to stop the war," Arben Xhaferi, leader of the DPA, told Reuters.

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"This offering cannot stop the war."

The leader of Macedonia's other main Albanian party, Imer Imeri, also took a tough line.

"For the most part we will disagree with this when we start talking tomorrow," Imeri, president of the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), told Reuters.

"There is no substantial difference from what was on the table before."

EU envoy Francois Leotard emphasised that the plan was just the beginning of an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement when it was delivered on Saturday.

The framework, based on a draft constitution written by a French legal expert, was also handed to party leaders in the mixed Macedonian Slav and ethnic Albanian government.

"It is the basis for further negotiations. Now, we need to have ... comments and amendments to this document," Leotard said.

James Pardew, Leotard's U.S. counterpart, described the new draft as a "comprehensive framework."

Details were not released, but a Macedonian involved in the process said the document includes constitutional changes that would strengthen local government and expand the official use of the Albanian language.

The ethnic Albanian rebels say they are fighting for more recognition and inclusion in government and society for ethnic Albanians, who make up between one quarter and one-third of the population in the Balkan nation of 2 million.

Trajkovski's peace plan calls for giving Albanians proportional representation in public institutions, would allow the Albanian language to be used more broadly in public affairs and would provide the possibility of amnesty for rebels who have not committed any crime.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire in Macedonia appeared to be holding despite minor clashes.

Local radio reported two incidents overnight on Sunday -- a rebel attack on a police checkpoint near Tetovo, as well as a sniper attack on government forces near the village of Slupcane in the Kumanovo region.

There was no word on casualties.