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Albanian rebels targeted
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MACEDONIAN troops began a fierce gun battle with rebels on the heights above Tetovo yesterday after launching an offensive backed by the fiercest artillery barrage of the campaign so far.
Some 250 troops armed with assault rifles and mortars and backed by more than a dozen armoured personnel carriers were locked in battle with ethnic Albanian guerrillas near the hilltop village of Gajre just over two kilometres outside the city.
At least two helicopters were involved in the operation, which followed an overnight attack by Macedonian helicopter gunships on suspected rebel positions, the first use of air power by the government.
Rebel rifle fire and mortar rounds also hit the town itself, two shells damaging shops and smashing windows.
Defence ministry spokesman Georgi Trendafilov said: “The operation announced by the government within the ultimatum issued to the terrorists aimed at expelling them from the territory of Macedonia in order to protect the integrity of the country is underway." (SD-Agencies)
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