Macedonia peace talks resume

The Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian leaders have resumed talks on a peaceful end to a conflict that threatens to develop into civil war.

Under tight security, US and EU mediators and the feuding parties gathered at a presidential retreat on Lake Ohrid in southwestern Macedonia.

It was the first face-to-face meeting of key leaders since high-level talks collapsed more than a week ago.

Western envoys hoped the two sides would build on lower-level discussions that took place over the past few days and said they were focusing on a main sticking point - a proposal to make Albanian an official language.

Under a compromise being discussed, Albanian would become official only in areas where minority ethnic Albanians account for more than 20% of the population.

The phrasing apparently was reworked in an attempt to make it more acceptable for majority Macedonians.

The language dispute cuts to the heart of the deep cultural differences between ethnic Albanians, who account for about a third of the Balkan country's two million people, and Macedonians of Slavic origin.

Ethnic Albanian rebels launched an insurgency in February, saying they were fighting for great rights and recognition for their people.

The Macedonian government alleges the rebels are linked to militants in neighbouring Kosovo and has accused them of trying to carve out territory from Macedonia.