Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia

All 29 men accused of being part of or helping the armed group that clashed with police in ethnically-mixed Kumanovo in May this year told the Skopje court on Monday that they were not terrorists.

The ethnic Albanian suspects denied the charges and said the bloody two-day shootout was a result of them defending themselves from the police.

In a report released on Monday, Human Rights Watch accused the Macedonian police of beating and insulting refugees and migrants from countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

"It's plain to see that Macedonia has a problem with police violence against asylum seekers and migrants," said Emina Cerimovic of Human Rights Watch.

Macedonian police fired tear gas at crowds of refugees on the Greek border on Friday, to deter them from trying to enter the country. Video footage showed at least several refugees were injured.

The previous day the Macedonian government declared a state of emergency on its southern and northern border following an unprecedented influx of refugees.

A rally in support of embattled Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski started in Skopje on Monday evening - a day after a protest march organized by the opoposition nearby demanded his resignation.  

The former Director of Macedonia's Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) Saso Mijalkov was actively involved in the staging of the terrorist attack in Kumanovo.

This is claimed by the Serbian daily Blic, based on information of the Serbian security services, BGNES news agency reports.

The Macedonian Parliament approved on Wednesday the reshuffles in the government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, which were necessitated after the resignations of the interior and transport ministers.

Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska, Transport and Communications Minister Mile Janakieski and the Director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) Saso Mijalkov all resigned on Tuesday evening.

Their resignations come at a time of heightened political tensions in Macedonia.

EU wants Kumanovo clashes investigated before it acts

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has stressed that the clash "between the police and armed persons in Kumanovo must be appropriately clarified."

This must happen "before the EU acts in this regard," the Beta news agency reported from Brussels on Tuesday.

President, PM offer condolences to Macedonian leaders

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic sent a telegram of condolences to Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov on Sunday in the wake of the clashes in Kumanovo.

Rights groups and NGOs alleged that police used excessive force when they deployed tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades to disperse thousands of angry protesters gathered in front of the government HQ on Tuesday evening.

At least 20 protesters and police officers were injured during the unrest, and several cars were damaged, police said.