Thousands of protesters in Tetovo demanded the resignation of health minister Ilija Filipce on 10 October in connection with alleged poisonings of Albanian children in local schools. Party for Democratic Prosperity leader Abdurrahman Aliti warned that violence may break out if the alleged culprits are not caught. Within two weeks around 500 ethnic Albanian pupils sought treatment for headaches, upset stomachs, and limb pains, but it remains unclear what was causing the illnesses. Most children recovered after several days of vitamin treatment. Filipce had visited Tetovo on 9 October and said the Vienna Forensic Institute found no signs of poisoning.
Police are, however, investigating the possibility.
The incident comes at a time of rising tensions in the run-up to local elections on 17 November. There were no signals that the EU was moving toward abolishing visa requirements for Romanian tourists. Also in Brussels, an agreement on setting up a Post-Privatization Fund was signed on 10 October. A newspaper in the Dniester breakaway region has confirmed reports that factories there are manufacturing arms, BASA-Press reported on 10 October. Pridnestrovye, the Tiraspol leadership's official newspaper, wrote that the munitions being produced include Grad jet-rocket equipment, claiming it is needed to maintain the balance of forces with Moldova's army.