Thousands of people are fleeing the Macedonian capital, Skopje, as well as neighbouring villages as ethnic Albanian rebels continue their advance. Police have blocked off roads in an attempt to prevent the rebels from reaching the outskirts of the city following fierce fighting between guerillas and government troops, which has brought the Balkan country to the brink of all out civil war. The rebels' advance means that for the first time they are within mortar range of Skopje. The development comes as Javier Solana, the head of European Union security affairs, held talks with Slav and ethnic Albanian leaders in Skopje. Mr Solana urged restraint saying nothing could be achieved through violence.
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A renewed tension between India and Pakistan has developed after US Secretary of State Colin Powell urged both parties to show restraint. Having struck agreements with Nauru and Papua New Guinea to off-load asylum seekers heading for Australia, the Federal Government has turned its attention to Fiji as the next destination for unauthorised arrivals. Scientists have discovered eight new planets outside our solar system.