Around 10,000 people demonstrated in central Skpoje Sunday to call on the Macedonian government to crush Albanian rebels attacking the northwestern town of Tetovo, a battle they fear could herald the start of a civil war.
Massing in front of the parliament, the demonstrators, including many from Tetovo and surrounding villages, shouted that the government should take "urgent action against the terrorists so we can go home."
The northern outskirts of Tetovo, a large town with a mainly ethnic Albanian population, have been the scene of five days of intense fighting between security forces and rebels calling for more rights for Albanians.
Protestors chanted "Tetovo is in Macedonia," and invited President Boris Trajkovski and the inhabitants of the capital to visit Tetovo and "hear the noise of the fighting."
A delegation of protestors was received by Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, who was due to give a statement at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT).
Around 3,000 demonstrators, mainly members of Macedonia's Slav majority, gathered outside the parliament late Saturday as deputies held a closed-door session to discuss the emergency.
Trajkovski came out to appeal to the crowd to remain calm, but was met with whistles and chants of "Give us weapons" and "We've waited long enough."
The parliament later adopted a statement approving "adequate measures to preserve peace and stability." It was backed by all the Albanian members, the ruling group and the opposition.
The statement said that "urgent and effective measures will be taken – SKOPJE (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
