Petre Silegov

The new Mayor of Skopje, Petre Silegov, who was elected in October, has said he has ordered the removal of three imitation galleons from the Vardar river - installed by the previous government - for safety reasons.

"The 'ships' hinder the normal water flow and, if the water level rises, it could result in spillage," Silegov told TV 24.

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris will travel to Skopje on Thursday to meet with his counterpart, Petre Silegov, and discuss closer ties between the two cities.

The legal changes failed to pass on Tuesday after only about 30 MPs in the 123-seat parliament, mainly from the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, voted in favour.

Macedonia's main opposition party has filed corruption charges against Police Minister Jankuloska on two criminal accounts of misuse of office and of tax evasion.

The Social Democrats, SDSM, say she illegally accepted cash donations for her party, VMRO DPMNE, in 2006.

After the executive board of the Social Democatic Party, SDSM, on Thursday unanimously supported the decision not to take up any seats in parliament, the party’s central committee is due officially to confirm the move on Thursday evening.

Macedonia's Social Democratic Party, SDSM, is to take a decision on Tuesday on what to do next following its defeat in Sunday's elections.

One option up for consideration is for the party to refuse to take up its seats in parliament.