Rebels demand Macedonian peace talks

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

The group has warned the government to respond or the fighting would continue.

The Macedonian government did not immediately react to the communique but officials have repeatedly said they have no intention of negotiating with the rebels, whom they have branded as "terrorists".

"We are determined to realise our demands and urge Macedonian authorities and non-government factors to make public as soon as possible if they want this to be resolved peacefully or not," the rebels said in a communique.

The statement, signed simply "National Liberation Army - Tetovo branch", ended with a warning that if talks were rejected, "we will bear no responsibility for the future chain of events".

Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski earlier accused the rebels of "ethnic extremism" that threatened to undermine the stability of the entire Balkans.

Ethnic Albanians account for at least a quarter of Macedonia's 2 million people and, although ethnic relations in Slav-dominated Macedonia have been relatively trouble-free, substantial numbers of the minority feel they are being treated as second-class citizens.

The statement continued: "Our people have for decades been insulted, discriminated against and banned from all civilization traditions in Macedonia. These are the main reasons that forced the Albanians to take up weapons and fight for their rights."

The rebels have called on all ethnic Albanians in Macedonia of fighting age to join their ranks, adding to government nervousness.

Since the fighting began one week ago, more than 2,300 ethnic Albanians have crossed the border to Albania - a tenfold increase from the usual number of crossings.