Kumanovo clashes

Seven individuals were arrested in Kumanovo suspected of aiding a criminal-terrorist group in the May clashes in the village of Divo.

Seven individuals were arrested within a comprehensive police action in the city of Kumanovo, Macedonia, and its vicinity on Thursday, all of whom are suspected of aiding a criminal-terrorist group in the May clashes in the village of Divo.

In the operation launched on Thursday morning in villages close to the Kosovo border, police arrested at least five people suspected of providing logistical help to the armed ethnic Albanian group that fought a bloody battle with security forces in Kumanovo in northern Macedonia in May.

Over 40 NGOs said they opposed the plan revealed last week by the embattled Gruevski, insisting it would be politically risky to undertake such an operation amid a deep political crisis that revolves around allegations of illegal, government-orchestrated mass surveillance.

A member of Macedonia's junior ruling ethnic Albanian party, the DUI, was shot dead on Thursday in Kumanovo - scene of a shootout in May between Albanian militants and police.

Kosovo police have arrested Sulejman Osmani, suspected of involvement in the two-day shootout in Kumanovo, Macedonia, in May, and wanted by the authorities in Macedonia.

In a short press statement issued after the meeting, Macedonia's four main party leaders said only that they had met to discuss details about the government that will prepare snap elections.

The deal was agreed on June 2 with the mediation of the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn.

The Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias, is visiting Macedonia on Wednesday on a mission to rekindle ties between the estranged neighbours.

About 2,000 ethnic Albanians marched in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, on Saturday, demanding redefinition of their status and the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, newswires reported.

The marchers also called for the resignation of Gruevsi's junior government coalition partner, the ethnic Albanian DUI led by Ali Ahmeti, to open the way for early elections.

Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev announced on Friday that, following comments by Commissioner Hahn in Washington about previous elections in Macedonia, the opposition party will not attend talks in Brussels set for June 10.

He especially criticised Hahn's comments about "the generally positive reports of the monitoring mission of OSCE/ODIHR" concerning elections held in Macedonia.

The European Commission has called on Macedonian politicians to hold on to the promises made during talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn on Tuesday.

A meeting resulted in an agreement that snap elections should take place by end-April 2016, according to Hahn.