(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has announced two days of mourning, after violence in the country's north killed at least 22 people.
Dozens of people were reportedly injured by gunfire when heavily armed police descended on the town of Kumanovo, arresting suspected members of an armed group.
Kristina Kukolja has more.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Explosions and gunfire could be heard over Kumanovo.
The town near Macedonia's borders with Serbia and Kosovo had been in lockdown for days.
When the operation was over police say eight officers were among the dead, a number of suspected fighters killed, others arrested, and weapons allegedly found in their hideout.
Some are expected to face terror charges, with police alleging they intented to destroy civilian and state targets.
Police spokesman Ivo Kotevski says the detainees are known to authorities.
(Translated) "We are talking about one of the most dangerous terrorist groups that threatened the entire region, and which has in past years been involved in a series of attacks. Its members were listed on international arrest warrants for serious crimes."
Kumanovo is located in a part of Macedonia with a majority Albanian population, but Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has been quick to to dismiss a return to ethnically-motivated violence.
(Translated)" This is not a Macedonian-Albanian conflict, but a conflict between those who wish ill for the country and its citizens, and people who want to protect the state, the constitution and constitutional order, and the security of all citizens."
Macedonian police suspect the Kumanovo group has cross-border links.
Their actions appear reminiscent of an ethnic-Albanian insurgency in 2001 when Macedonia opened its borders to refugees from Kosovo, allowing rebels who'd fought in the war against Serbia to enter.
NATO ended that conflict.
It's now calling for an investigation into the developments, as European countries urge restraint.
This ethnic-Albanian resident of Kumanovo says the incidents are unrelated.
(Translated) "Like other citizens, we are surprised and no one knows what and why this happened. I know during the war in 2001 we were informed and we have supported these groups that were fighting for the Albanian cause but now it is the contrary. The people in this region were guarding their villages to not let anyone infiltrate from outside our villages."
In Australia, some members of the Macedonian community are worried about the events in Kumanovo.
Among them, Sydney-based journalist and publisher Victor Bivell.
"The things that strike me about the incidents are that it's a large group of people and that they are very well-armed. There are reports they've got grenades, automatic weapons, military uniforms and they've had military training. So, we're not talking about ordinary citizens here - we're talking about people with a very specific agenda that doesn't sound very benign. It's actually a great concern that there could be a reasonably large group of people that way inclined."
Mr Bivell says the violence could affect Macedonia's political situation, already marred by claims of massive corruption, and instability.
"I'd really like to see the results of the interrogation, but if there are links to the drug trade, and people who are well armed I think it could have repercussions on Macedonia's domestic politics, but it may work to unite the people to get to the bottom of what's going on and solve what is a very nasty situation."
Share
