Macedonia Reeling After A Heavy Day Of Fighting Between Police And Militants From Neighboring Kosovo

BBC: Macedonia blames Kosovans for deadly Kumanovo clashes

Macedonia says five Kosovans led the armed group which was involved in deadly clashes with security forces in the northern town of Kumanovo.

Eight officers and 14 gunmen were killed in the fighting, Interior ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski said.

Those named were members of the now dismantled Kosovo Liberation Army.

Mr Kotevski said the operation near the Serbian-Kosovan border was now over and the armed group had been "neutralised", with a large amount of weapons seized.

Last month, about 40 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo briefly took over a Macedonian police station in the village of Gosince near the border, demanding the creation of an Albanian state within Macedonia.

More News On This Weekends Violence In Macedonia

Gun battle in ethnic Albanian region deepens Macedonian crisis -- Reuters
Mysterious, well-trained fighters attack shopping malls and sporting events in Macedonia, leaving at least 22 dead -- AP
Macedonia in mourning after gun battle leaves 22 dead -- L.A. Times
Macedonia: police officers and 'armed group' members killed during clashes -- The Guardian
8 policemen, 14 gunmen killed in Macedonian operation against armed group -- CCTV
Macedonian police wipe out Albanian 'terrorists' -- Deutsche Welle
Raging Gun Battle With 'Armed Group' Kills Eight Police Officers in Macedonia -- VICE News
Macedonian President: Police Prevented Widespread Terrorist Attack -- VOA
Gunmen in Macedonia had planned many attacks, leader says -- AP
NATO and the EU call for calm in Macedonia -- Al Jazeera