Kicevo

The completion of two highway stretches funded by a Chinese loan of 574 million euros is now uncertain after work was temporarily halted in order to fix problems with the routes and the incomplete expropriation of the land.

The Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, DOM party - the country's green political force - has accused the authorities of not doing enough to curb the dangerous air pollution in Skopje and other major towns.

As air pollution in capital, Skopje, and other towns remains at an alarming level, prompting fresh calls from environmentalists for action, the ruling VMRO DPMNE party has tried to shift the blame for the deadly smog to local authorities run by the opposition.

Protestors wearing the movement's signature vibrant clothes threw paint balls at the Justice Ministry and President's contact office in downtown Skopje as they marched along their usual route.

Macedonia's opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, have demanded an emergency parliamentary session on the subject of air pollution, calling also for the resignation of the Mayor of Skopje, Koce Trajanovski.

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski announced over the weekend the start of work on the two new motorway segments financed by a loan of 574 million euro from the Chinese Export-Import Bank.