Macedonia: Ethnic Albanians rally against discrimination
Some 4,000 ethnic Albanians protested in Macedonia's capital against alleged discrimination, nine years after a power-sharing deal averted a civil war.
After gathering outside the country's Supreme Court, marchers carrying red-and-black Albanian national flags filed peacefully past parliament and the main government building.
The rally was organized by a group representing 40 ethnic Albanian non-governmental and civic organizations. The groups claim Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative government is discriminating against ethnic Albanians "on ethnic and religious grounds."
The government denies the allegations.
Ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million population. An armed uprising by ethnic Albanians in 2001 left about 80 people dead, and ended after international mediation secured more rights for the minority.
But ethnic Albanian leaders say many government guarantees have been ignored.
(more)
Source: Canadian Press
Some 4,000 ethnic Albanians protested in Macedonia's capital against alleged discrimination, nine years after a power-sharing deal averted a civil war.
After gathering outside the country's Supreme Court, marchers carrying red-and-black Albanian national flags filed peacefully past parliament and the main government building.
The rally was organized by a group representing 40 ethnic Albanian non-governmental and civic organizations. The groups claim Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative government is discriminating against ethnic Albanians "on ethnic and religious grounds."
The government denies the allegations.
Ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million population. An armed uprising by ethnic Albanians in 2001 left about 80 people dead, and ended after international mediation secured more rights for the minority.
But ethnic Albanian leaders say many government guarantees have been ignored.
(more)
Source: Canadian Press
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