Kosovo/FYR of Macedonia: more than 1,000 driven from homes

More than 1,000 people have been driven from their homes by clashes between Macedonian forces and armed ethnic Albanian militants in the rugged mountain terrain along FYR of Macedonia's border with Serbia's UN-administered Kosovo province. A total of 890 ethnic Albanian refugees have fled Macedonia's border area to Kosovo since February 15. Another 300 people have fled from the mountainous border area deeper into Macedonia. Some of those arriving in Kosovo said they walked 4 to 5 hours over the mountains. Most come from Tanusevce and Malina Mala - the two villages which have been caught up in the clashes, The figure of 890 does not include people who might have been displaced by last night's reported clashes between ethnic Albanian rebels and the FYROM security forces.