10 Macedonian soldiers die in rebel ambush

Ethnic Albanian rebels have killed 10 Macedonian soldiers in an ambush this morning about 10 miles west of the capital, Skopje.

Witnesses said the National Liberation Army guerrillas attacked a military convoy which was transporting troops to rebel-populated regions in the north-west of the country.

The attack came just hours before negotiators representing the ethnic Albanian minority and the Macedonian Slav majority were expected to finalise a peace agreement designed to end a six-month old insurgency.

This morning's rebel offensive appeared to come in retaliation for yesterday's killing of five Albanians which the Government accused of being members of the NLA.

A government spokesman said the rebels appear to be descending from the mountains in an attempt to capture more territory in the north, where they already control several villages near the border with Kosovo and some road links.

Fighting continued into the afternoon following today's assault, with an unspecified number of army and police units pinned down by rebel fire.

Meanwhile, peace talks resumed under the auspices of NATO and the European Union in the south-western lake resort of Ohrid. The talks were teetering on the brink of collapse earlier this week when the Government demanded that the NLA disarm immediately as part of a peace deal.

The rival sides are back at the negotiating table after NATO assured the Macedonians that the rebels will eventually disarm in exchange for an amnesty.

NATO general secretary Lord Robertson has apparently guaranteed that his troops will collect weapons from the insurgents once a peace deal is signed. Under the plan, NATO will oversee the voluntary disarmament of the NLA, but will not force the rebels to decommission.