Heavy firing broke out today between Macedonian government forces and ethnic Albanian rebels west of the capital Skopje, rocking a fragile 17-day ceasefire, witnesses reported.
The Macedonian Ministry of Defence confirmed the clashes, saying government forces had come under attack by rebels in villages just above Tetovo, the country's main Albanian town.
"Because the positions of the Macedonian security forces were endangered and their lives threatened and because the rebels have broken the ceasefire we responded appropriately," said the spokesman, Mr Marjan Gjurovski.
Tetovo residents said they could heavy machine gun fire and small arms weapons from just before 9 a.m. 900.
