Heavy fighting erupted between government forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas in Macedonia on Monday, while Albanian guerrillas in nearby Serbia signed a pact to disarm and disband.
Tanks, artillery and combat helicopters were in long-range action against rebels who have held a cluster of villages in the hills of northeastern Macedonia for nearly three weeks.
The army reported no casualties. The insurgents said five civilians were wounded, but none of their fighters. Each side accused the other of starting the day-long firefight.
Battles were concentrated on Slupcane and Vakcince, where rebel return fire was the heaviest seen in 18 days of fighting.
The minaret of the mosque was demolished and shells exploded around it. Muzzle flashes were visible from buildings the length of the village. High explosive detonations threw up orange and gray plumes of dust and smoke.
Peasants three miles off paused in the fields to stare over at the smoking, booming hillside. Tell-tale smoke columns showed the neighboring rebel-held village of Slupcane, already badly hit by shelling, was also under bombardment.
Guerrillas confirmed this, saying some houses were on fire -- NEAR VAKCINCE, Macedonia (Reuters)
