Macedonia: Fighting: Police have moved into the hills above Tetovo скачать в хорошем качестве

Macedonia: Fighting: Police have moved into the hills above Tetovo

(22 Mar 2001) Natural Sound XFA Macedonian police armed for combat have moved into the hills above Tetovo at the start of a government push to cleanse them of ethnic Albanian rebels and sent the insurgents retreating, an official said on Thursday. The police official, said dozens of "terrorists" were arrested in the "search and sweep operation." Police met no resistance. Shortly after the offensive began the boom or artillery or mortars was heard, shattering a more than 24-hour period of calm. There was no rebel comment on the police claim that the insurgents were fleeing without a fight. The official said that security forces moved past empty trenches and machine-gun positions and seized a large quantity of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, hand grenades, explosives and ammunition. He said the militants were throwing away their uniforms and attempting to pull back to Kosovo in civilian clothes. The police move into the hills began a few hours after the president ignored the insurgents' offer of a cease-fire and vowed to "neutralize and eliminate" them. "It is necessary that the Macedonian army take control of the Macedonian side of the border," said President Boris Trajkovski, moments before the end of a midnight government deadline to the rebels to lay down their arms and surrender or leave Macedonia. Negotiations for a peaceful settlement were still possible, he said, but only through parliament and other established institutions, and not directly with the rebels. The European Union expressed support for the government stance. In a last-minute concession, the rebels had declared a cease-fire and called anew for talks to peacefully end the conflict. He said the cease-fire was open-ended, but warned that in case of attack the more than four-week struggle would continue. The government has so far ignored the offer. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...