Macedonian policeman killed by Albanian rebels

A Macedonian police officer has died in a gun attack by ethnic Albanian rebels while peace talks continue.

The death came after militants opened fire on police checkpoints, killing the officer, in the north western city of Tetovo.

It raises the death toll on the Government side to 41 since clashes began in February.

Talks between Macedonians and ethnic Albanian experts are continuing at the south western resort of Ohrid.

The killing is not expected to disrupt the talks, which have taken place for weeks under the mediation of US envoy James Pardew and his EU counterpart Francois Leotard.

Yesterday, the envoys submitted a new plan on the use of Albanian as an official language - the most contentious issue separating the rivals.