The presidents of Yugoslavia and Macedonia are launching a joint struggle against ethnic Albanian militants.

Western officials declared a breakthrough in Macedonia’s peace talks, breaking an impasse on the contentious issue of the use of the Albanian language in the troubled Balkan country.

Western officials have declared a breakthrough in Macedonia's peace talks, breaking an impasse on the contentious issue of the use of the Albanian language in the troubled Balkan country.

Macedonia's ruling party has rejected a peace proposal aimed at ending an insurgency by the country's ethnic Albanian minority.

Macedonian Government forces pounded rebel strongholds with artillery, tanks and helicopter gunships today despite the resumption of talks between ethnic Albanian and Slav politicians aimed at ending the violence.

Macedonia’s President has vowed to defeat ethnic Albanian rebels both politically and militarily amid signs the violence could spread and move closer to the capital Skopje.

Army forces are continuing their offensive in Macedonia as the president prepares to discuss his peace offer with leading politicians in the government coalition.

Soldiers have again hammered ethnic Albanian rebel positions with artillery fire in an offensive that deepened fears among Macedonians that the country is on the verge of civil war.

Macedonia's army has launched a fresh offensive to clear ethnic Albanian rebels from the hills along the northern border with Kosovo.

Britain today called on "restraint" from Macedonia as the Balkan republic's forces began their first serious offensive.

Ethnic Albanian rebels are willing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to end their week-old insurgency in Macedonia.