MACEDONIA: DESPITE CEASEFIRE, ALBANIAN REBELS AND MACEDONIAN TROOPS EXCHANGE FIRE IN REBEL HELD VILLAGES AS INJURED TROOPS ARE AIRLIFTED OUT

Record ID: 566138

  • Title: MACEDONIA: DESPITE CEASEFIRE, ALBANIAN REBELS AND MACEDONIAN TROOPS EXCHANGE FIRE IN REBEL HELD VILLAGES AS INJURED TROOPS ARE AIRLIFTED OUT
  • Date: 14th August 2001
  • Summary: (W5) MATAJCE, MACEDONIA (AUGUST 14, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF MACEDONIAN ARTILLERY ON HILLSIDE POSITION LOOKING OVER MATAJCE 0.03 2. WIDE OF VILLAGE OF MATAJCE 0.07 3. SMV MACEDONIAN SOLDIER WATCHING THROUGH BINOCULARS 0.11 4. LV BUILDING 0.16 5. SLV TANK/ SCU MACEDONIAN SOLDIER WAITING (2 SHOTS) 0.24 6. LV ALBANIAN POSITIONS 0.29 7. BACK VIEW/SCU OF MACEDONIAN SOLDIER LOOKING THROUGH GUN SIGHT OF ARTILLERY TOWARDS ALBANIAN REBEL POSITIONS (2 SHOTS) 0.36 8. SCU MACEDONIAN GUNS AND EQUIPMENT 0.41 9. VARIOUS OF MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS IN ENCAMPMENT (2 SHOTS) 0.49 10. SMV MACEDONIAN SOLDIER LADLES SOUP FROM CAN AND GIVING CONTAINER TO WAITING SOLDIER 1.01 11. LV TANK AIMED AT VILLAGE 1.04 12. CLOSE UP , EVIDENCE OF SHELLING WITH DAMAGED GRAVES IN CEMETARY (2 SHOTS) 1.10 (W5)SKOPJE, MACEDONIA (AUGUST 14, 2001) (REUTERS) 13. WIDE OF HOSPITAL 1.17 14. WIDE OF HELICOPTER ARRIVING 1.27 15. LV AMBULANCE DRIVING UP TO HELICOPTER 1.33 16. SLV INJURED POLICE BEING TAKEN OFF HELICOPTER TO WAITING AMBULANCE 1.48 17. LV HELIOPTER AND AMBULANCE 1.53 18. SLV AMBULANCE DOORS BEING CLOSED 2.02 19. WIDE OF AMBULANCE ARRIVING AT HOSPITAL 2.06 20. SMV MAJOR BARRY JOHNSON, KFOR /NATO SPOKESMAN TALKING TO REPORTER 2.11 21. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAJOR BARRY JOHNSON, KFOR/ NATO SPOKESMAN, SAYING "The ceasefire is very fragile, there continues to be some incidents, there were some incidents last night and through the day that are being reported which very much concern us. But part of what the team that has come in the expert advisors, are going to do, is monitor the ceasefire, help ensure, and track it so that NATO knows when the conditions are right that will allow for troops to follow on." 2.37 22. WIDE OF INTERVIEW WITH JACKSON 2.43 23. WIDE OF DOWNTOWN STREET 2.49 24. SMV MAN BUYING PAPER AT NEWSPAPER STAND 2.59 25. CU /SCU OF HEADLINE IN NEWSPAPERS ABOUT SIGNING OF PEACE AGREEMENT (2 SHOTS) 3.10 26. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Macedonian) MAN SAYING "I am not sure what will happen, just because the agreements have been signed we aren't sure peace will hold, its difficult to believe the Albanians will surrender their weapons." 3.21 27. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Macedonian) MAN SAYING "Trajkovski, They (the government) should all be killed, they're really not for this country they should all be expelled. He (Trajkovski) won't be respected." 3.34 28. SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Macedonian) WOMAN SAYING "I don't think the Albanians can be respected." 3.49 29. SLV PEOPLE SEATED ON PARK BENCH EATING ICE CREAM 3.56 30. WIDE OF BRIDGE OVER RIVER 4.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SKOPJE AND MATAJCE, MACEDONIA
  • Country: Macedonia
  • Reuters ID: LVABZF2KGC3PJ7TW4EA8N5U6ACOW
  • Story Text: Macedonian soldiers and ethnic Albanian rebels are
    exchanging fire north of the capital Skopje, ignoring a peace
    accord signed on Monday.



    Macedonian tanks and artillery blasted ethnic Albanian
    guerrillas along a northern front and rebels burned buildings
    in occupied villages after the signing of a peace accord on
    Monday, observers said on Tuesday (August 14).

    The overnight violence underlined how difficult it will
    be to establish a durable ceasefire required by NATO to deploy
    3,500 troops to collect weapons from the guerrillas as part of
    the landmark agreement on minority rights for Albanians.

    Government tanks and artillery bombarded the rebel-held
    villages of Matejce and Nikustak on Monday night following
    guerrilla small-arms fire earlier in the day.

    Reports said there were many exchanges of fire through the
    evening in the mountainous zone some 20 km (12 miles) north of
    the capital Skopje, but that the Macedonian army's use of
    tanks and artillery was disproportionate.

    The Macedonian state news agency MIA said guerrillas in
    Matejce and neighbouring hamlets fired at least 20 mortars at
    Umin Dol, where government tanks and artillery were dug in,
    early on Tuesday morning.

    In the capital Skopje, several helicopters were seen
    transporting wounded Macedonian soldiers to hospitals on
    Tuesday morning.

    A team of special NATO military advisers was due to arrive
    in Skopje to assess the status of the ceasefire agreed on the
    eve of the peace accord.

    A NATO spokesman Major Barry Johnson said they would be
    assessing the situation on the ground and working to help
    preserve a ceasefire declared on Sunday.

    Despite the relative calm which appeared to prevail on
    confrontation zones on Tuesday many Macedonians wonder if
    Albanian rebels will go ahead with commitments to disarm.

    Local press has criticised the agreement despite the wide
    participation of Macedonian political parties in the deal.

    Local residents of Skopje have voiced doubts over whether
    the Albanians would surrender their weapons.
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