Tetovo fighting raises tension

Police are now back in control of the streets

Life is returning to normal in the northern Macedonian city of Tetovo after a night of clashes between Albanian rebels and government security forces.

The clashes - which saw fighting in the city centre for the first time - ended a fragile ceasefire brokered by Nato two weeks ago.

The situation is critical and I call on all of those involved to demonstrate leadership by taking the right decision to follow the path to peace

Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson

The government had set a deadline for the rebels to pull back from their positions around the city, but the rebels reportedly withdrew hours before the ultimatum was issued.

However correspondents say rebel forces have proved they can move in and out of parts of the Tetovo - which they regard as their unofficial capital - and have threatened to take control of the city to protect Albanian citizens who live there.

The government says this unacceptable, and officials are warning of a possible all-out offensive against the rebels.

Rebel assault

The attack on Tetovo, Macedonia's second largest city, began against an army barracks in the north of the city.

Heavy explosions and bursts of gunfire could be heard just 200 metres from the town centre as fighting continued into the night.

The fighting prompted hundreds of people to flee their homes.

The violence inflamed the already dangerous mood in the capital, Skopje, following Tuesday's riots targeting Nato and international mediators accused of supporting the rebels.

Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson described the situation as "critical" and said he would fly to Macedonia on Thursday for urgent mediation to prevent a descent into full-scale civil war.

Frustration

Western diplomats are thought to be increasingly frustrated by hard-liners in the Macedonian Government stopping the peace process moving forward.

Protesters in Skopje attacked UN property

The militants launched their insurgency in February, saying they were fighting for greater rights for ethnic Albanians, who account for up to a third of Macedonia's two million people.

The government alleges the rebels are linked to militants in neighbouring Kosovo and accuses them of trying to carve out territory from Macedonia.