Ethnic Albanian rebels fired grenades and machine-gun shots at government forces overnight in northern Macedonia despite progress in peace talks but no one was injured, the defense ministry said Monday.
Fighters from the rebel Liberation Army (NLA) used machine-guns and grenade-launchers against Macedonian positions in the villages of Grusino and Nikustak in the northern Kumanovo region, the defense ministry said in a statement.
Automatic rifle shots, described by the defense ministry as "provocations," were also reported in three other villages held by the rebels: Matejce, Slupcane and Orizare.
In the northwestern region around Tetovo, shots were heard in the areas around Drenovec, Djepciste, Poroj, Strmo, Strimnica, Gajre, Selce and Shipkovecko Teke.
The incidents came after an announcement late Sunday that an accord had been reached between Macedonian and ethnic Albanian political leaders over police reforms, the main sticking point to an overall settlement -- SKOPJE (AFP)
