Cook urges restraint in Macedonia
Britain today called on "restraint" from Macedonia as the Balkan republic's forces began their first serious offensive.
Army troops have engaged ethnic Albanian rebels near Gajre in the hills around the city of Tetovo.
But Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is advising restraint, as the revolt is currently believed to involve no more than a few hundred rebels.
In a telephone conversation with Macedonian president Boris Trajkovski, Mr Cook expressed British support for the former Yugoslav state.
The Foreign Secretary said: "I spoke to President Trajkovski today to reaffirm our support for Macedonia's independence and territorial integrity and to urge him to maintain the policy of restraint in the face of provocation from the terrorists."
The tank advance on Gajre followed an early-morning mortar assault on the village, and was backed by Government helicopters.
There was concern that the military action might create more support for the rebels among Macedonia's ethic Albanian community, which makes up around a quarter of the country's two million population.
Some locals claimed that Government troops were targeting the properties of innocent Albanians.
Although the rebels say their aim is limited to more rights for ethnic Albanians within Macedonia, the Government accuses them of seeking independence and drawing on Kosovo for fighters and weapons.
British troops in the Kfor peace-keeping force are being moved to the Kosovo-Macedonia frontier to help stem the flow of weapons across the border.
