NATO Chief: Macedonia Situation 'Critical'
T E T O V O , Macedonia, July 25 -- The government gave ethnic Albanian rebels an ultimatum to pull back from around the country'ssecond-largest city or face a new army offensive, as thousands of Macedonians streamed out of the city in packed cars and buses.
NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson called the situation"critical" and said he and the European Union's foreign policychief would fly to Macedonia on Thursday for urgent mediation toprevent a descent into full-scale civil war.
More than 8,000 people fled the area of the northern city ofTetovo in the past 24 hours, the government said, most heading forthe capital Skopje after fierce fighting Sunday and Mondayshattered a fragile cease-fire.
The exodus widened after Macedonia's defense minister andinterior minister today warned that military action waspossible if the insurgents didn't retreat.
"Unless the rebels pull out to their previous positions ... wewill no longer listen to suggestions from any Western mediator, andan offensive is not excluded as an option," the ministers said ina statement.
In Brussels, Belgium, Robertson urged restraint. "Any effortsto resolve the situation militarily can only result in the wreckageof the country and the inflicting of grave civilian casualties,"he said.
More Ethnic Cleansing?
Overnight, mobs of Macedonians rampaged against foreignembassies in Skopje, accusing NATO of supporting the guerrillas.Protesters threw stones at the U.S. Embassy late Tuesday, smashedentrances of the British and German embassies and burned severalU.N. and other cars.
The clashes around Tetovo were the worst in months and dimmedhopes that peace talks that collapsed last month could be revived.Those fleeing the city largely were ethnic Macedonians — who form amajority in the country but a minority in Tetovo.
One lifelong resident, Milina Stavreva, packed to leavetoday, vowing never to return. "Enough is enough," saidStavreva, 60. "We can no longer live here."
