Both countries have advised their nationals to get out of, and stay away from, Macedonia. The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, who had been due in Skopje today, cancelled his visit at short notice. The situation is getting worse. The rebels have captured swathes of territory in the west of the country, and have cut off electricity and water supplies. They have now threatened to move into Skopje to protect the Albanians living there.
Estimates vary, but most observers believe that at best the rebels have only a few hundred fighters.
However, the group has close links to the much bigger Kosovo Liberation Army, which was supposed to have disbanded after Nato troops took control of the province in 1999. It is not in Nato's remit to cross the Macedonian border, and to control the Kosovo side would take thousands of troops. Instead, Nato and the EU recommend internal reforms to give the Albanian minority better representation and equal rights with the Slav majority. But with the situation spiralling out control, Nato may have no choice but to get involved as civil war could destabilise the whole region.