Weary of ethnic hatred and violence, Macedonians and ethnic Albanians voted in near-record numbers today in the country's first elections since war erupted last year.
Voters streamed to the polls from villages across the volatile northwest, a stronghold of ethnic Albanian guerrillas who launched a six-month insurgency in February 2001. Signs at voting stations warned that no guns were allowed.
Leaders from both camps called the turnout the largest in 20 years, and by mid-afternoon, police had not reported any major incidents.
The election is the first since the rebellion ended in August 2001 and the fourth since Macedonia peacefully split from Yugoslavia in 1991.
It is considered crucial in defusing lingering tensions between Christian Orthodox Macedonians and minority Muslim ethnic Albanians.
More than 3,300 candidates from 30 parties are competing for 120 seats in Macedonia's parliament.
Polling stations have now closed and the first unofficial results are expected tomorrow.
AP