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Sunday Morning News

Macedonia Launches Offensive Against Albanian Guerrillas

Aired March 25, 2001 - 7:05 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Macedonia has launched what it calls its final operation against ethnic Albanian gorillas. The rebels calling themselves the National Liberation Army say their goal is more rights for ethnic Albanians in Macedonia.

In a CNN exclusive, Christiane Amanpour talked with Macedonia's president and the leader of the Democratic Party in Albania.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you support the tactics of the rebels?

ARBEN XHAFERI, CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA: No, we do not support the rebels because we are very strong in political methods. We cannot achieve many goals in the political world because we cannot control the consequences of this war -- not the sources.

The roots of this conflict are domestic. We have about 10 years unsatisfaction within the state. We are completely marginalized in the state and this is the background political recount of this crisis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: This president calls the offense against the rebels an isolation strategy of both military and political efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR: Is there a military solution to this?

PRESIDENT BORIS TRAJKOVSKI, MACEDONIA: Yes, we have to protect the -- our interests and also to protect any possibilities of spillover in the situation. But then there is no -- any time to have a military solution. The first fall is try with the political means.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Artillery and motor fire reverberate today in the rugged hills of Tetovo. The conflict between Macedonia forces and ethnic Albanian rebels has gone on for more than five weeks now.

CNN's Chris Burns is in the thick of the action. He joins us now live by videophone. Chris, what's the latest? CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, some very fierce fighting continuing. Ever since dawn today, government forces launching their attack on the rebel positions in the mountainside behind me -- the mountainside next to Tetovo, the second largest city in the country.

And the concern is that if it spreads, it could involve more civilians. The government has launched very, very heavy artillery attacks. The boom from tank artillery as well as helicopter gun shifts flying over and shooting rockets into rebel -- suspected rebel positions has been continuing today. Gun fire on -- in various parts of this mountainside and we were -- what it appears is that there are two fronts here where the government is attacking from two sides of the mountain trying to squeeze the rebels.

The question is, how far are they getting? It is obvious they're getting deeper. We're hearing that motor fire and the artillery fire are going deeper into the mountains. There is a worry, however also, that these are villages that they're going through and how many civilians are being hurt is anyone's guess. So far the Red Cross says they're unable to get access in there. It's much too dangerous -- the fear of mines as well.

A hospital here is reporting six people wounded. But that's only from here around town. Anyone's guess what's going on up there -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Chris Burns thanks for that report.

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