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Macedonian army reservist killed in crisis region, government says Fri Apr 26, 9:55 AM ET By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES, Associated Press Writer SKOPJE, Macedonia - A Macedonian army reservist has been shot to death in the area where ethnic Albanian insurgents fought government troops last year, the Interior Ministry said Friday. The reservist � identified as Zlatko Trajcevski, 28 � was found dead late Thursday with two bullet wounds in the head, authorities said. His body was found in a car belonging to his brother. The car was parked on a side road near the northwestern village of Zelino, some 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the capital, Skopje. Trajecevski likely was shot Thursday, and he wore civilian clothes when he was killed, police said. Police also reported 30 shootings overnight in the region of the northwestern city Tetovo, populated predominantly by ethnic Albanians. Such shootings occur almost every night, but police said Thursday night was more intense than usual. Police stations in the area were attacked three times in the past week. Rebels fighting for more rights for the ethnic Albanian minority fought a six-month insurgency against government troops last year in northwestern Macedonia. The conflict ended in August after politicians representing the two sides signed a Western-brokered peace deal, but tensions remain high. In a positive sign, ethnic Albanian villagers Friday lifted all but one of the roadblocks sealing off 17 villages in the crisis region. The villagers erected the roadblocks Wednesday to prevent ethnically mixed police units from patrolling the area, arguing remaining ethnic Albanian prisoners should be released before patrolling begins. International observers and Western diplomats in Skopje harshly criticized the roadblocks, calling them a violation of the peace agreement. It was unclear why the villagers dismantled the road blocks, or why a blockade near the village of Palatica remained. No prisoners have been released, the government said all ethnic Albanians jailed in connection with the insurgency had already been pardoned and that the villagers were now demanding the release of common criminals. After the cease-fire last year, NATO troops arrived to collect some 4,000 weapons from the rebels, who then disbanded. European observers and alliance troops stayed to monitor the implementation of the peace process. Under the deal, parliament adopted an amnesty law for the former rebels and changed the constitution to upgrade rights for the ethnic Albanian minority, which makes up a third of Macedonia's 2 million people. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
