Ohrid - Macedonian and ethnic Albanian politicians tussled over future policing at talks yesterday as the government and rebels accused each other of violating a truce.
After a one-day break, leaders of the two main Macedonian Slav and two Albanian political parties gathered in the south-western town of Ohrid to focus on Albanian demands for a greater role in the police force.
The issue goes to the heart of the dispute between the two groups, with Albanians saying they feel intimidated by a Macedonian-dominated force while Macedonians fear losing control permanently over ethnic Albanian areas, many of which are now in the hands of guerrillas.
The talks, which have no deadlines, made a breakthrough on Wednesday by giving the Albanian language a limited official status alongside Macedonian.