Macedonia protests demand PM quit
NEWS CENTER (DİHA) - Thousands of protesters are gathering in the Macedonian capital Skopje to demand the resignation of long-serving Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
The rally follows the release by the opposition of covert recordings which appear to show ministers plotting vote-rigging and the cover-up of a murder. Mr Gruevski denies the allegations. Adding to the political instability, last weekend eight police officers and 14 ethnic Albanian fighters were killed in clashes in the city of Kumanovo. Crowds have gathered outside the prime minister's office in central Skopje and demonstrators are carrying both Albanian and Macedonian flags.
In 2001, Macedonia came close to the brink of civil war when armed rebels demanded greater rights for the Albanian minority, which makes up about a quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million population.
The government says the opposition is trying to destabilise the country for its own benefit. It is organising a counter-demonstration for Monday.
Last week two ministers and the head of the intelligence service resigned. Opposition leaders said intelligence chief Saso Mijalkov and Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska were behind attempts to control the press, judiciary and electoral officials by tapping their phones.
(nt)
