Rebels kill Macedonian police officer

A Macedonian police officer has been murdered by rebels.

The news comes as an advance party of British troops leaves to begin Nato's mission in the country.

The force commander is warning that the weapons collection operation will be scrapped if he did not find a commitment to peace.

But a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman says the killing, blamed on Albanian extremists, would not prevent the mission getting under way.

"It is a civil matter in Macedonia. It is not going to affect our operation in any way," she said.

The officer was killed by a sniper at a checkpoint outside the city of Tetovo, where the army came under fire from militant Albanians.

Before setting out with a 40-strong advance team, Brigadier Barney White-Spunner said he needed evidence that both sides were committed to the peace deal before the full British-dominated force, expected to number 3,500, is deployed.

But 400 more troops are expected to leave on Friday to establish an operation headquarters over the weekend.

Nato officials already on the ground are completing details of the planned operation, titled Essential Harvest.

The rest of the force, expected to number 3,500, is expected to be sent out early next week despite the continuing skirmishes.