FYR of Macedonia: ethnic Albanians continue to flee

More than 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) first began last February. The figure includes some 70,000 people who have fled Macedonia since the beginning of May, as well as those who had been displaced during the first round of fighting last February but never went back to their homes.

Meanwhile, ethnic Albanians continue to flee FYROM for Kosovo, with the number of those crossing varying from day to day. Yesterday (Thursday), just under 600 people crossed the border, down from about 1,000 the day before. Those who crossed yesterday said they were coming from a village outside of Tetovo which they said had come under artillery fire by FYROM forces trying to flush out the rebels. Other said they were coming from Skopje because of mounting tension between ethnic communities there. Among those arriving from Skopje were people who had sought refuge there after being displaced from other areas but who had now decided to leave FYROM altogether.