We are not terrorists and we are not attacking anyone. In fact, we are being attacked by Macedonian forces. While it's impossible to obtain accurate casualty reports, or to determine which are civilians and which are guerrillas wounded, a local doctor is quoted as saying that as many as 8 people have been killed in the shelling, with about another 50 wounded. Meanwhile, rebels sources here boast to the local media of having acquired sophisticated military equipment. They claim to have fought off Macedonian military attacks and to have shot down three helicopters and captured two tanks.
Macedonian officials deny any losses.
All this creates further tensions in Kumanovo. With a population composed of a potentially volatile mixture of Serbs, ethnic Macedonians and Albanians, the concern is that the current situation could explode in violent ethnic attacks. So far there have been no incidents in the city. Local politicians and the police appeal for calm and urged residents of all ethnic backgrounds not to respond to provocations. The question is how much influence any of these politicians have, given the current situation.