Balkan leaders call for political dialogue

There have been more calls by Balkan leaders for both the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian rebels to cease hostilities and begin a political dialogue.

The Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, said the crisis could be solved only through political means.

Mr Meidani made his comments after meeting his Croatian counterpart, Stipe Mesic, who has offered to mediate in the conflict.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov, said the major risk facing Macedonia was a feared collapse of the governing coalition, which includes an ethnic Albanian party. Mr Kostov said Macedonia's politicians should focus on the political aspect of the conflict to prevent society from splitting along ethnic lines.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service