Macedonian forces and ethnic Albanian rebels fought for control of the suburbs of Tetovo yesterday, further straining an 18-day truce as the guerrillas extended their territorial grip.
Sniper shots rang through Tetovo's main square and heavy close-quarter exchanges of small arms and machine-gun fire raged for most of the day.
A 12-year-old girl was killed by one of the mortar bombs flying over the predominantly Albanian town's sports stadium towards new National Liberation Army (NLA) positions.
Tetovo's hospital director said 13 civilians had been injured, along with five Macedonian troops, in the heaviest fighting inside the town in five months of guerrilla warfare.