Tjugo islamister har gripits av polisen
i Makedonien för mord på fem unga fiskare.
De islamiska albanerna angrep en by strax
norr om Skopje bebodd av kristna makedoner.
Avsikten med angreppen var att öka de religiösa
och etniska spänningarna i landet, uppgav
inrikesministern.
**
"The intention of this crime was to create a sense of
insecurity and fear among the general population,"
she said.
Tensions between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians
have simmered since the end of an armed rebellion in
2001, when ethnic Albanian rebels fought Macedonian
government forces for about eight months, seeking
greater rights for their community. The conflict left
80 people dead, and ended with the intervention of
NATO troops.
Ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia's
population of 2.1 million. Most Macedonians are
Christian Orthodox.
About 800 police were involved in Tuesday's
operation, called "Monster," raiding 26 houses
around the Macedonian capital of Skopje and
seizing weapons, bullet proof vests and Islamic
literature, Jankuloska said.
All of the suspects had fought in Afghanistan
and Pakistan, she said.
The suspects were followers "of radical Islam,
which is generally a danger for Christianity,"
she said.
"They all have the capacity to commit such
a horrible act."
***
