Protesters Vow More Rallies Against New Macedonia Govt

Thousands of members and supporters of the former ruling party - the conservative Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, VMRO DPMNE - took to the streets of the Macedonian capital on Monday evening to protest against the formation of a new coalition government they claim puts ethnic Macedonian interests at risk.

The peaceful protest was organised by the Civic Initiative for a United Macedonia, which claims no single political party supported the rally. Organisers announced the protests would continue on Tuesday.

Demonstrators accuse the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, SDSM, and its leader, Zoran Zaev, of betraying Macedonian interests by striking a deal on a number of ethnic Albania demands in return for support to form a new coalition government following the December 11 general election.

The protesters wore no political party insignia during the rally, which was held in front of the government building. Demonstrators then marched through the city centre, passing the presidential contact office and ending the rally in front of the parliament building.

Slogans directed at Zaev were painted on signs reading: "You did not inherit Macedonia so you could destroy it", "No to Bilingualism" and "This is our red line".

People chanted: "It will not pass" and "We want one language". Some sung nationalistic slogans like "Clean [ethnically] Macedonia" and "Damn Shiptars" [a derogatory term for ethnic Albanians in Macedonia] know that Macedonia's name won't perish".

"They [the opposition] want to divide the yellow and the red colour of the Macedonian flag. We won't let that happen. They want destruction, we want [a] united Macedonia... They will not cross the...