Macedonia moves in on rebels

SKOPJE - Macedonia says its security forces will take coordinated action with the K-for Nato-led peackeeping forces in Kosovo to bring a rebellious border village under control.

Foreign Minister Sergan Kerim said the action would take place within hours after a day of crisis talks with Nato officials following the death of three soldiers near a village occupied by Albanian gunmen.

He also said there was no reason to launch a military intervention against the village, which lies just inside Macedonia, a fragile multi-ethnic state that has so far escaped the Balkan conflicts of the past decade.

"Today we have asked for K-for Commander Cabigiosu together with Macedonian security forces to take coordinated action to bring the critical area under control and to normalise the situation at the border zone around and in Tanusevci," Kerim told the state news agency MIA.

"Such measures will be taken within the next hours, while the Macedonian Government and the President will be in touch with Nato Secretary-General George Robertson, European Union High Representative Javier Solana and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan," Kerim said.

Asked if there would be a military move, Kerim said: "There are no reasons for launching a military intervention, although we have responsibility in front of the Parliament and the citizens of this country."

Macedonia closed the border with Kosovo and placed police guards outside strategic buildings in the capital amid a crisis it said could destabilise both the country and Europe. But Kerim said a state of war was a long way off.

"Macedonia is far from a state of war and the situation should not be dramatised," he said.

Kerim said people from K-for in Pristina, the Defence Ministry and Macedonia's general staff were planning the action. He refused to give details. A defence source said they would plan the details, timing and measures to prevent too many casualties.

In a clear change of line, Western officials said they would "understand" any armed action by Macedonia against ethnic Albanian fighters operating in a border village on Macedonian territory. "We understand the need and obligation of Macedonia to respond to this kind of threat," said United States Ambassador in Macedonia M. Michael Einik.

"This response should be appropriate to the situation on the ground and should be done in coordination with Nato. American officials are engaged in sub-coordination as we speak."

Nato, which leads the K-for peacekeeping force over the border in Kosovo, had previously urged the Government not to use force against guerrillas, fearing violence could spread through Macedonia whose population is about one-third ethnic Albanian and two-thirds Slav.

The Macedonian Defence Ministry said it had already responded "with all its weaponry" after a mine attack and shooting against its troops from three directions, including behind a security cordon set up around the Tanusevci village.

The US K-for contingent, whose troops are stationed on the other side of the border in Kosovo, said it had brought in reinforcements after the attacks.

- REUTERS

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