Thursday, April 19, 2012

After riots, Macedonia, Albania urge calm

Apr 19, 2012

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — The presidents of Macedonia and Albania have issued a joint plea for calm, in the wake of violence in the tiny Balkan country.


Five Macedonian fishermen were found shot dead last week, triggering weekend riots by youths who blamed members of the country's ethnic Albanian minority for the crime. Police have made no arrests in the murder case and not named any suspects.

Albania's President Bamir Topi met Macedonia's Gjorge Ivanov Thursday and condemned the "climate of prejudice" while calling for "people to live in peace."
Ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia's population of 2.1 million. Tensions with the Macedonian majority have simmered since a 2001 uprising by ethnic Albanian rebels.

No comments: