Macedonian police have acknowledged today that the killings of seven alleged Pakistani terrorists two years ago was staged to win US support and that the victims were innocent illegal immigrants.
Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska
Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska said six people, including three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman, have been charged with murder.
"That was an act of a sick mind," Konteska said. "They ... ordered the brutal murder of the seven Pakistani men."
The so-called Rastanski Lozja action was carried out in March 2002 by special Macedonian police who claimed to have eliminated a terrorist group allegedly plotting to attack international embassies and representatives in Macedonia.
Konteska said that the seven Pakistani men who were killed as alleged terrorists at the time, were in fact illegal immigrants who were lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be transferred to Western Europe.
Konteska explained that the seven were transported by police to Rastanski Lozja area, about three miles north-east of the capital Skopje, where they were encircled and gunned down by special police using automatic weapons.
"They lost their lives in a staged murder," said Konteska.
Senior Western representatives in the country had demanded an investigation into the police action following the killing of the Pakistani men.
Macedonia has been a close US ally in the Balkans and has staunchly supported the US-led war on terrorism, including sending troops to Iraq .
Also facing possible charges in connection with the case is former Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski, who headed the police during Macedonia's 2001 ethnic conflict and was the police chief at the time of the disputed action.
If proven guilty the suspects could face from 10 years to life in prison.
PA