Macedonian language

The Greek section of the Italian School of Athens is due to close down because of financial constraints, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency said on Wednesday.

The school?s head, Emilio Luzi, confirmed that a drop in the number of students enrolling at the private institution had contributed to the decision to phase out the Greek section.

Macedonian police said 14 migrants were killed on Thursday night on the railway line that runs from the central Macedonian town of Veles towards the capital, Skopje.

Authorities said they fear the final death toll might be higher.

Albanian group claims responsibility for attack on govt. HQ

A group calling itself the National Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for Saturday's explosion in front of the Macedonian government HQ in Skopje.

This has been reported by the Albanian language, Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore.

The Bulgarian government approved Boris Vangelov as chairperson of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad.

This emerged after the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the government's press service reports.

Vangelov holds Master's degrees in History and Geography and Law from the Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and St. Methodius.

Bulgarian and Macedonian police have detained a 41-year-old inmate who was seeking to enter Bulgaria.

In a joint operation, the two police forces prevented him from passing through the border where he had been accompanied by a Bulgarian national, according to the Interior Ministry in Skopje.

The Bulgarian, however, managed to flee.

Reports: 3 workers dead in factory fire in Macedonia

SKOPJE -- Three workers died on Thursday in a fire that broke out after an explosion in a factory in Bogdanovci, Macedonia, according to media reports.

Vraniskovski, a controversial priest serving a jail term for embezzlement, may have hopes of an imminent pardon, a well informed source from the Macedonian Justice Ministry told BIRN.

Macedonia, Croatia tackle corruption

Officials' involvement in organised crime raises the issue of cross-border security.

Macedonian and Croatian police continue to co-operate to bring to justice current and former high-level officials suspected of corruption including cross-border fraud, experts said.

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Macedonian border police officers detained a 33-year-old Bulgarian national who tried to smuggle 11 illegal immigrants through the country.

All of the 11 people were Syrian nationals and were hiding in a hidden compartment of a truck driven by the Bulgarian national.

The Macedonian prison authorities have declined to comment after Vraniskovski, who is in jail for embezzling some 250,000 euro from the Macedonian Orthodox Church before defecting to set up his own church, complained of being mistreated.

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