Macedonian ceasefire holds

The ceasefire is broadly holding despite reports of clashes

A ceasefire in Macedonia is broadly holding, but ethnic Albanian rebels have so far not responded to attempts to persuade them to lay down their weapons.

The ceasefire was announced unilaterally by President Boris Trajkovski on Thursday, after a government deadline for the rebels to withdraw from occupied villages in the north of the country expired.

It is not reasonable to have a dialogue with people with Kalashnikovs in their hands

Macedonian Government spokesman Antonio Milososki

There were reports of brief clashes between the troops and rebels on Friday, which the government said were in response to rebel provocation and not a resumption of their offensive.

Mr Trajkovski had said military action would be suspended because civilians were now leaving the area, after previously ignoring government requests to do so.

But the exodus of civilians was reported to be drying up on Friday.

The international community has continued to urge the Macedonian Government to show restraint, fearing that an all-out assault on the rebels could split the country's new coalition government, and escalate the conflict.

Amnesty offer

If they lay down their arms, the rebels may be offered an amnesty, and the chance to set up their own political party, or to join existing Albanian political parties in Macedonia.

Fewer refugees are leaving the rebel-held area

Western diplomatic sources said on Thursday that a breakthrough was close, after messages had been exchanged with the rebels via ethnic Albanian politicians.

But the government said it had no intention of holding talks with the rebels.

"It is not reasonable to have a dialogue with people with Kalashnikovs in their hands," said government spokesman Antonio Milososki.

The rebels took control of a swathe of territory in the north of the country on 3 May, after being driven out of the area around the north-western city of Tetovo a month earlier.

They say they are fighting to improve the position of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, but are widely believed to be seeking to annex Albanian-populated villages in Macedonia to Kosovo.

Presevo moves

On Thursday Serbia gave ethnic Albanian rebels in the Presevo valley until 24 May to lay down their arms.

Many villagers refuse to leave their homes

In the last few days more than 100 are reported to have crossed into Kosovo, handing in their weapons to Nato peacekeepers.

Nato Secretary-General Lord George Robertson has said the alliance will do what it can to prevent rebels crossing from Serbia into Macedonia.

Macedonia's new coalition government had warned on Tuesday the rebels would be "eliminated" if they failed to lay down their weapons by noon on Thursday.