Albanian rebels under attack

Armed police in Macedonia have moved into the hills above Tetovo in the start of a push to cleanse them of ethnic Albanian rebels.

A police spokesman said dozens of "terrorists" were arrested in the "search and sweep operation".

Shortly after the offensive began the boom or artillery or mortars was heard.

There is no rebel comment on the police claim the insurgents were fleeing without a fight.

The official said security forces moved past empty trenches and machine-gun positions and seized a large quantity of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, hand grenades, explosives and ammunition.

He said the militants were throwing away their uniforms and attempting to pull back to Kosovo in civilian clothes.

Elsewhere there were reports of violence. Police reported one officer wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade just outside Skopje - the second incident targeting a policeman in or near the capital in 24 hours.