US Condemns Violence by Ethnic Albanian Extremists

The United States on Friday strongly condemned the continued violence by ethnic Albanian extremists on the Kosovo-Macedonia border area, the State Department said.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We have reports of an exchange of fire that began last night between ethnic Albanian extremists and Macedonian forces on the Macedonian side of the border. A civilian government police convoy was attacked by extremists. One Macedonian policeman was killed."

"Obviously we deplore this death and the others that occurred earlier this week. We strongly condemn the continued violence by ethnic Albanian extremists," Boucher said.

He noted that NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson and US officials reiterated yesterday that NATO and the United States support Macedonia's security, stability and territorial integrity.

"NATO peacekeeping forces are taking measures on the Kosovo side of the border and communicating and coordinating activities with the Macedonians as appropriate," Boucher said.






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