More than 3,000 ethnic Albanians have left Macedonia for Albania and Serbia, and more than 7,000 ethnic Albanians and Slavs have been displaced in Macedonia, relief organizations said. Many families interviewed said they had sent their children and young men abroad to stay with relatives. The rebels made a plea in a communiqu from their headquarters that they not be regarded as terrorists or adventurers. They said they had taken up arms only after years of frustration and discrimination. Peace did not depend on them, the statement said, but on the government and the people.
International support remains firmly behind the government.
The security chief of the European Union, Javier Solana, visited the capital, Skopje, today to back the government. Mr. Solana advised his hosts not to start talks with the guerrillas. He warned the rebels that they would achieve nothing by force. It is a mistake to negotiate with terrorists in this particular case, and we do not recommend it. Privacy Information Stay connected to the news that interests you with free e-mail alerts from The New York Times.