[ALBSA-Info] CHRONOLOGY-Key events in Macedonia ethnic Albanian rebellion

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

CHRONOLOGY-Key events in Macedonia ethnic Albanian rebellion

SKOPJE, May 13 (Reuters) - Key events of an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 
Macedonia that has led to formation of an all-party emergency coalition 
government. 

Jan 22 - One Macedonian Slav policeman killed in grenade attack on police 
station in western village of Tearce near Tetovo, an area populated mostly by 
ethnic Albanians. 

Feb 16 - Exchange of fire between Macedonian army and unidentified group of 
armed men crossing into Macedonia from Kosovo near border hamlet of 
Tanusevci. No casualties. 

Feb 21 - NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers in Kosovo pledge to step up border 
patrols and control movements of supplies and people. 

Feb 23 - United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says 95 women and children have 
fled to Kosovo from Tanusevci. 

Feb 27 - Macedonia urges KFOR to tighten border controls. 

March 1 - NATO envoys in Skopje urge government not to use force against 
militants occupying Tanusevci for fear of straining inter-ethnic relations 
betwen Slavs and Albanians. 

March 4 - Two Macedonian soldiers killed near Tanusevci when their vehicle 
runs over mine. Another shot by sniper fire. 

- Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and U.S. say they back 
use of force against the guerrillas. 

-  Macedonia seals border with Kosovo. 

March 5 - Backed by KFOR, Macedonian army launches offensive to flush out 
guerrillas from Tanusevci. KFOR sees some leaving. 

March 10 - Organisation calling itself National Liberation Army (NLA) gives 
political backing to fighters at Tanusevci and demands equal rights for 
ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. 

- NLA guerrillas driven out of Tanusevci redeploy nearby. 

March 13 - About 10,000 people march in Skopje to protest against violence in 
rally organised by Democratic Party of Albanians, a junior partner in the 
ruling coalition. 

March 16 - Tetovo central square hit by shells. 

March 14 - Fighting spreads to the heartland of Macedonia's ethnic Albanian 
minority. Heavy fire exchanged near Tetovo. 

March 17 - Macedonian army helicopter crashes near scene of fighting outside 
Tetovo killing pilot and injuring 12 policemen. 

March 18 - Several thousand Macedonians rally in Skopje and urge government 
to take tougher action against rebels. 

March 19 - Macedonian tanks enter Tetovo as police machine-guns and mortars 
rebel positions. 

March 20 - UNHCR says 4,000 ethnic Albanians have fled Macedonia and a 
further 4,000 are internally displaced. 

- European Union security chief Javier Solana urges Macedonia to compromise 
on ethnic Albanian minority demands. 

- Macedonian Defence and Interior ministries issue 24-hour ultimatum to 
rebels to surrender or face all-out attack. 

March 22 - Fighting in Gracani kills one policeman. 

March 23 - UNHCR says over 22,000 Macedonians have fled. 

March 27 - NATO chief George Robertson and Solana meet Macedonian leadership 
to discuss political solution to crisis. 

March 28 - Macedonian forces launch offensive to drive out insurgents from 
their remaining hideouts. 

April 2 - Macedonia says rebellion suppressed. 

- Macedonian political leaders open talks on resolving ethnic tension, main 
opposition Albanian party boycotts. 

April 3 - Macedonia reopens border crossings to Kosovo. 

April 28 - Eight Macedonian soldiers killed near Vejce, close to Kosovo 
border, in highest death toll so far. 

May 1 - Macedonian Slavs torch ethnic Albanian shops and a cafe in second 
largest town of Bitolja, where four of the eight killed servicemen were 
buried the same day. 

May 3 - Ethnic Albanian rebels kill two Macedonian soldiers and capture 
another near Vakcince, close to Skopje. 

May 3 - Macedonian army attacks hillside village of Vakcince with helicopter 
gunships and artillery fire. 

May 5 - Macedonia considers declaring state of war. 

May 6 - Red Cross says hundreds of civilians hide in basements in Vakcince 
and Slupcane during daily shelling. 

May 7 - Government backs away from declaring state of war yielding to 
pressure from EU and NATO. Main Macedonian parties agree to form coalition to 
adress minority grievances. 

May 11 - Last holdout on coalition, Albanian PDP, joins up. 

May 13 - Parliament approves new unity government by 102 votes to 1, and 
swears in grand coalition cabinet.