From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Friday August 31 5:54 AM ET Macedonians Block Parliament Before Key Peace Debate SKOPJE (Reuters) - Hundreds of angry Macedonians on Friday blocked entrances to the national parliament building where deputies were due to begin debating reforms agreed under a Western-backed peace plan meant to avert civil war. The protest against planned constitutional changes and other reforms giving more rights to the ethnic Albanian minority brought traffic to a standstill in the center of the capital Skopje. Protesters waved red and yellow Macedonian flags and held banners saying ``U.S. and NATO leave Macedonia in 48 hours'' and ''We demand the resignation of the entire government.'' Some shouted ``The constitution must not be changed!'' and ''We must not allow the Albanisation of the country!'' Dozens of anti-riot police in green fatigues gathered near the parliament, whose session had still not got under way well after it was due to start at 0900 GMT. Ethnic Albanian guerrillas who began an insurgency in February have pledged to disarm and disband if the reforms are implemented. But many Macedonians doubt the rebels' promise and believe the peace plan has been forced upon them. NATO soldiers in Macedonia as part of the peace deal have collected more than 1,400 weapons from the rebels so far and alliance leaders have said the onus is now on Macedonian politicians to start honoring their side of the bargain. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
