Two killed after 'threatening police with grenades' in Macedonia
Two people have been killed after reportedly threatening to throw grenades at armed police in Macedonia.
The police were starting a government push to cleanse the hills above Tetovo of ethnic Albanian rebels.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said dozens of "terrorists" were arrested in the "search and sweep operation."
Police met no resistance, he said, but on the edge of Tetovo reporters saw two bodies lying near a police checkpoint.
State radio said the men were shot by officers after one of them tried to throw a grenade during a routine control.
One of the dead victims still held a live grenade, and police were keeping their distance from the bodies.
Shortly after the offensive began the boom or artillery or mortars was heard, shattering a more than 24-hour period of calm.
There were reports of violence elsewhere. Police reported one officer wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade just outside Skopje - the second incident targeting a policeman in or near the capital in 24 hours.
Elsewhere near the capital, eight police officers were pinned down in an ambush, said officials who had no further details and asked not to be named.
