[ALBSA-Info] History of Albanian Insurrection

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

History of Albanian Insurrection

.c The Associated Press

  
The ethnic Albanian insurrection in the southern Balkans spread to a new 
front early this year, spreading unrest that threatens to flare into a new 
Balkan war: 

Jan. 22: Grenade attack on police station in Tearce, ethnic Albanian village 
in western Macedonia, kills one policeman and injures three. New group 
calling itself the National Liberation Army claims responsibility. 

Feb. 17: Border patrol exchanges fire with ethnic Albanian militants near 
village of Tanusevci. 

Feb. 26: Insurgents in Tanusevci open fire on police, drawing army units into 
clashes. 

Feb. 27: NATO sends advisers to help Macedonia contain budding insurrection 
and moves more observers to Kosovo boundary. 

March 4: Three Macedonian army soldiers killed near Tanusevci, two whose 
vehicle hit land mine, the third hit by sniper fire. 

March 5: Macedonian authorities announce plan coordinated with NATO to combat 
guerilla activity, start calling up reservists for duty with border guard 
units. 

March 7: U.S. peacekeepers in Kosovo wound two men in gunbattle near 
Macedonian border. 

March 8: Ethnic Albanian guerillas ambush Macedonian police convoy near 
Tanusevci, killing at least one policeman. 

March 10: Rebels call for constitutional changes and end to alleged 
discrimination against ethnic Albanians in Macedonian political institutions. 

March 13: Rally organized by moderate ethnic Albanian party draws about 
30,000 people in Skopje, the capital. 

March 14: Rally organized by ethnic Albanian militants draws 5,000 in Tetovo, 
Macedonia's second-largest city. Heavy shooting erupts in suburbs in first 
case of fighting spreading past rural areas. State radio reports at least 10 
people injured, including eight policemen.