MACEDONIA: TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN MACEDONIA FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF FIVE MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS IN THE BATTLE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS

Record ID: 648263

  • Title: MACEDONIA: TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN MACEDONIA FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF FIVE MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS IN THE BATTLE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS
  • Date: 7th June 2001
  • Summary: (W4)SLUPCANE, MACEDONIA (JUNE 8, 2001)(REUTERS) 1. GV/LV EXPLOSIONS ON HILL FROM SHELLING; MI 24 HELICOPTERS FLYING OVER SLUPCANE RELEASING HEAT FLARES; SMOKE OVER HILLS (6 SHOTS) 0.47 (W4)BITOLA, MACEDONIA (JUNE 7, 2001)(REUTERS) 2. SLV/SV ALBANIAN SHOP ON FIRE IN TOWN (4 SHOTS) 1.23 3. GV/LV CROWD OF ANGRY MACEDONIANS GATHERED IN THE STREETS; RIOT POLICE GATHERED TO CONFRONT PROTESTERS; PROTESTERS SHOUTING ANTI-ALBANIAN SLOGANS; RIOT POLICE; TWO SIDES AGAINST EACH OTHER IN TENSE STANDOFF (9 SHOTS) 2.40 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BITOLA AND SLUPCANE, MACEDONIA
  • Country: Macedonia
  • Reuters ID: LVACSK8MCT4JS4334TQ4K7PV252R
  • Story Text: Tensions remain high in Macedonia following the killing
    of five Macedonian soldiers in the ongoing battle with
    ethnic-Albanian rebels.



    Macedonian government forces used helicopter and
    artillery-fire against a cluster of border villages on Friday
    (June 8), despite a call by Albanian rebels for a ceasefire.

    The fighting took place around the villages of Slupcane
    and Orizari, located in northeast Macedonia near Matejce and
    Vakcince, where offensives have continued for weeks.

    President Boris Trijkovski was set to address parliament
    on Friday with a plan to allow rebels to lay down their arms
    and safely retreat.

    European Union policy chief Javier Solana was also due to
    arrive in the country on Friday to hold talks with the fragile
    coalition government.

    In the town of Bitola overnight, throngs of angry
    Macedonian Slavs gathered in the streets to protest the recent
    killing of five Macedonian soldiers by Albanian guerrillas,
    burning a shop belonging to an Albanian local. They were met
    by Macedonian riot police in a standoff in the streets.

    Three of the dead soldiers were from Bitola.


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