Macedonia is shaken by ethnic violence

Some 30 people have been arrested after an outbreak of the worst ethnic violence in Macedonia since the small Balkan country went to the brink of civil war 11 years ago, authorities said yesterday.

Increased security had been ordered in several cities where clashes occurred involving rival gangs of youths from the majority Macedonian community and ethnic Albanians, leaving dozens injured.

During several days of rioting, young people attacked buses and used iron bars, knives and baseball bats in street fights.

The violence erupted after two ethnic Albanian men were shot dead by police in an apparent dispute over a parking space in the western town of Gostivar.

Political leaders called for calm but warned that police would take a tough line against rioters.

“There are people who want to disrupt peace in this country,” prime minister Nikola Gruevski said.

“The police will do everything in their power to find those responsible for these incidents,” he added.

“Anyone planning to take part in these violent actions should know they will face the full force of the law.”

Police reported a lull in violence overnight on Sunday for the first time in several days, after an increased security presence was ordered in the capital Skopje and elsewhere.

The worst rioting was reported in the cities of Gostivar, Skopje, Tetovo and Prilep, authorities said.