Macedonia weapons collection on course

Nato says its operation to collect weapons from ethnic-Albanian rebels in Macedonia is continuing according to plans, despite Tuesday's attacks in the United States.

Security at collection points and American bases has, however, been stepped up.

An alliance spokesman said the troops were nearing the end of the second stage of their operation, and expected to have two-thirds of the agreed total of weapons collected by the end of the week.

But a BBC correspondent in the country says suggestions are emerging that many of the weapons don't work - which will reinforce a wide impression among Macedonians that the collection is not seriously denting the rebels' arsenal.

After two-thirds of the weapons have been handed in, parliamentary deputies are due to resume debating the constitutional and legislative changes contained in last month's political deal between the rebels and the Macedonian government.

Only after the changes are passed will the third and final phase of the weapons collection take place.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service