Civilians Reported Killed in Shelling

Macedonia’s troops shelled positions of ethnic Albanian rebels while the president hurriedly examined political concessions to the Albanian minority aimed at averting civil war.

A senior ethnic Albanian politician said there were unconfirmed reports that as many as 10 civilians had been killed in the latest upsurge in fighting.

While President Boris Trajkovski resumed talks with leaders of parliamentary political parties on ways of increasing the rights of the Albanian minority, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski said he plans to ask parliament to declare a state of war.