Pakistanis ‘murdered to impress Americans’

MACEDONIAN police acknowledged yesterday that the killing of seven alleged Pakistani terrorists two years ago was staged to win US support and that the victims were innocent illegal immigrants.

Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska said six people three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman have been charged with murder.

"That was an act of a sick mind," Ms Konteska said. "They ... ordered the brutal murder of the seven Pakistani men."

The so-called Rastanski Lozja action was carried out in March 2002 by special Macedonian police, who claimed to have eliminated a terrorist group plotting to attack international embassies in the Balkan state.

Ms Konteska said that the seven Pakistani men who were killed as alleged terrorists were, in fact, illegal immigrants who had been lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be transferred to the West.

She explained that the seven were transported by police to the Rastanski Lozja area, about three miles north-east of the capital Skopje, where they were encircled and gunned down by special police using automatic weapons.

"They lost their lives in a staged murder," Ms Konteska admitted.

Western representatives in the country had demanded an investigation into the police action following the killing of the men.

Macedonia has been a close US ally in the Balkans. The country has staunchly supported the American-led war on terrorism and has also sent troops to Iraq.

Former Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski, who headed the police during Macedonia's 2001 ethnic conflict and was the police chief at the time of the Rastanski Lozja action, also faces possible charges in connection with the case.

Mr Boskovski who is likely to be charged if the parliament revokes the immunity from prosecution which he currently enjoys denied the allegations.

"This whole thing is staged," he said. Mr Boskovski claimed that he and his associates had been tipped off about the alleged terrorists from unidentified US intelligence officers.

Ms Konteska, however, said that an additional forensic and ballistic investigation confirmed that the action was staged. She said the investigation into the killing is ongoing and there could be more suspects.

If proven guilty the suspects could face from 10 years to life in prison.