Gordana Jankulovska

Zaev acted swiftly on his promise to sort out the decades-long dispute with Greece over the country's name, which had resulted in Athens blocking Skopje's bids to join the European Union and NATO.

More than 1,000 previously unreleased wiretapped audio recordings are expected to be heard on Friday and next week at the ongoing trial of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and other former government officials who are charged with allegedly masterminding electoral fraud in 2013.

Former Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski and other former ministers from his government who have been charged with masterminding election fraud in 2013 will remain free but with their passports seized as a precautionary measure, the country's Appeals Court has ruled.

Former Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski and several other former ministers from his former ruling VMRO DPMNE party told Friday's hearing in the Appeals Court that they have no intention of fleeing and reject the charges of election rigging pressed by the country's Special Prosecution, SJO.

Macedonian legal experts say either parliament, the Constitutional Court or President Gjorge Ivanov himself could annul the hotly disputed pardon of top politicians and their associates, which has worsened Macedonia's political crisis.

Opposition Social Democrats, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev told a press conference on Friday that after the planned mass rally, a non-stop sit-in protest will maintain the pressure on Gruevski and his government.

CONSEQUENCES OF KUMANOVO ATTACK Macedonian ministers, head of intelligence service resign

Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska, Minister of Transport Mile Janasijeski, and head of the intelligence service Saso Mijalkov have resigned.

Macedonian ministers, head of intelligence service resign

SKOPJE -- Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska, Minister of Transport Mile Janasijeski, and head of the intelligence service Saso Mijalkov have resigned.

Fighting between police forces and members of an armed group has continued for a second day in the northern Macedonian town of Kumanovo.
                   
Five police officers were killed and over 30 injured in an exchange of fire with the armed group in the town on May 9.
                   

Border zone reinforced as 5 police die in Macedonia clashes

RISTOVAC, KUMANOVO -- Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said on Saturday that the police were doing everything to preserve stability and security of citizens.