A spokesman for the prime minister says Mr. Georgievski believes dialogue is no longer possible and strong military action is necessary to deal with the gunmen. Parliament needs to approve the declaration by a vote of two-thirds. The declaration will allow the military to call up all able-bodied men for service. The announcement follows overnight clashes outside the country's second largest city, Tetovo, that left five soldiers dead and six others wounded. Amid escalating tensions, unidentified gunmen fired two shots at the office of President Boris Trajkovski in Skopje late Wednesday.
Officials say no one was injured in the attack.
In the southern city of Bitola, police say crowds of Macedonians rioted and torched at least 15 shops belonging to ethnic Albanians. Meanwhile, U.S. and southeast European defense ministers strongly condemned what they called terrorist actions by the gunmen. But they urged Macedonia to show moderation and intensify inter-ethnic dialogue. The ministers also called on Macedonia to undertake urgent reforms and improve minority rights. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana echoed the ministers comments.