Tetovo calm after fighting

Macedonian soldiers face rebels across sandbag defences

By Nicholas Wood in Tetovo

The Macedonian city of Tetovo is calm after a night of fighting between ethnic Albanian rebels and government security forces.

A Macedonian TV technician in northern Tetovo crouches to avoid snipers

Some shops are open and people are out on the streets.

And in the city centre there is little evidence of the fighting overnight.

It seems a pattern is being established.

Both sides remain quiet throughout the morning, allowing people to stock up on provisions but, just a kilometre from the main square, ethnic Albanian guerrillas and Macedonian police units can be seen facing each other either side of a cemetery in the west of the city.

Dividing lines

The National Liberation Army or NLA has built up defences with sandbags.

Macedo

Across the graveyard, Macedonian security forces have stationed armoured personnel carriers.

This is one of the few visible dividing lines in the city.

Nato officials say they are doing their utmost to ensure that both sides refrain from fighting, but the Macedonian Government seems increasingly militant, openly criticising Nato as being pro-Albanian.

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, says it is deeply worried about the recent violence.

It says it is particularly concerned about the number of Macedonians leaving their homes around Tetovo.

It says if the two populations separate, enormous barriers will be created against their future co-existence and eventual return.