Macedonia PM Denies Planning Violence Against Opposition

Gruevski, who insists that he has nothing with alleged wiretapping of more than 20,000 people, said that a press release issued by his VMRO DPMNE party had been misunderstood and was not calling for violence against government opponents.

In the press release, the VMRO DPMNE party called on its members to stand "strong and in tightened ranks" in defence of the "honour and national interests" of Macedonia.

It insisted that it would not let the opposition, which has published what is said were transcripts of some of the wiretapped conversations, carry out its "shameful and destructive strategy... for the destabilization of the country" and the violent take over of power. It also urged "all citizens to join this fight".

But Gruevski said that 'fight' did not mean physical attacks.

"With [the term] 'fight', we mean a political fight for Macedonia's progress, for the preservation of dignity, economic and democratic progress and a better life for all citizens," the Prime Minister explained.

The party issued the press release after the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM last month started unveiling the transcripts and accusing Gruevski and secret police chief Saso Mijalkov of masterminding a large-scale eavesdropping on opposition figures, government critics, journalists, the diplomatic community and others.

But the SDSM said that the press release was an attempt by Gruevski to rally his "nervous fellow party members".

"That is why he calls for the tightening of party ranks due to possible alleged destabilization. Gruevski and Mijalkov are those who are destabilizing the country," the SDSM said.

The SDSM held its first press conference about the telephone surveillance on February 9, when it alleged that over 20...