E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana plans to meet Saturday with members of Macedonia's coalition government. He is expected to lend E.U. support to Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski's proposals to end the conflict. In a speech Friday, Mr. Trajkovski suggested political reform, an overhaul of the security forces and an amnesty to end the crisis. He said the amnesty would apply to gunmen who agree to lay down their weapons and resume a normal civilian life. The gunmen burst into the town of Aracinovo Friday, some 10 kilometers from Skopje.
Macedonian media report the gunmen forced residents to leave the town.
The reports also say Macedonian troops have blocked all entrances and exits to Aracinovo. Meanwhile, government soldiers are trying to re-capture a key water reservoir near the northern city of Kumanovo. The insurgents seized the dam earlier this month and cut water supplies to Kumanovo. Email this article to a friend.