Skopje, 17 May 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Ethnic Albanian fighters in Macedonia are facing a government ultimatum to either lay down their arms by noon today or face a major assault by the Macedonian military. Appearing yesterday on Macedonian television, President Boris Trajkovski said a non-violent solution to ethnic Albanian demands for more rights required patience and determination. He said the alternative was a "divided society in whirlwind of war."
The United Nations refugee agency said yesterday that 9,000 Albanians have fled their homes in Macedonia for Kosovo since 3 May when fighting began between Macedonian troops and ethnic Albanian fighters. But thousands are still believed trapped in their homes in rebel-held villages in the north.
Trajkovski said his forces will do their best to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He blamed the rebels for choosing "to shield themselves with civilians."
There was more fighting yesterday. A Macedonian army spokesman, Blagoja Markovski, said there had been new insurgent attacks in the north.
The United Nations refugee agency said yesterday that 9,000 Albanians have fled their homes in Macedonia for Kosovo since 3 May when fighting began between Macedonian troops and ethnic Albanian fighters. But thousands are still believed trapped in their homes in rebel-held villages in the north.
Trajkovski said his forces will do their best to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He blamed the rebels for choosing "to shield themselves with civilians."
There was more fighting yesterday. A Macedonian army spokesman, Blagoja Markovski, said there had been new insurgent attacks in the north.