Blast hits Macedonian capital

An explosion has shaken an Albanian neighbourhood in Macedonia's capital, Skopje.

An apparent bomb went off in a rubbish container.

No injuries or major damage were reported, although the blast shattered windows in nearby stores.

Police confirmed that the blast took place and said the incident was under investigation.

No further details were immediately available.

The blast shook a city already on edge because of the recent tensions involving ethnic Albanian militants and Macedonian Government forces.

The rebels launched an insurgency six months ago, saying they want more rights for the country's ethnic Albanians.

Earlier on Sunday, two people were killed when an explosion ripped through a motel in northwestern Macedonian.

The incident further complicating Nato's efforts to build confidence between the rebels and the Government ahead of a mission to collect weapons from ethnic Albanian militants.

The Macedonian-owned motel was located in Celopek, a village six miles south of the predominantly Albanian city of Tetovo.