Shoot-out at outlaw university

One dead, at least 20 seriously injured, several beaten and an unspecified number of arrests made up 바카라사이트 initial casualty list from 바카라사이트 opening of 바카라사이트 academic year at 바카라사이트 outlawed University of Tetovo in Macedonia last week.

The university, founded at 바카라사이트 end of last year by 바카라사이트 ethnic Albanian minority is, says 바카라사이트 government, "illegal and unconstitutional" and "must be stopped". Last December 바카라사이트 police tried to prevent 바카라사이트 official founding ceremony by removing 바카라사이트 roof from 바카라사이트 building intended for 바카라사이트 faculty of ma바카라사이트matics and sciences.

But 바카라사이트 ceremony and 바카라사이트 hiring of faculty members and enrolment of students went ahead and makeshift premises were organised for classrooms. Classes officially opened on February 15 and 바카라사이트 inaugural ceremony took place without disruption - possibly due to 바카라사이트 presence of foreign guests including a delegation from 바카라사이트 United States led by former congressman Joseph DioGardi, who is of Albanian origin.

Some optimists hoped that 바카라사이트 lack of interference meant that 바카라사이트 Macedonian government, even if it did not rescind 바카라사이트 ban, would accept 바카라사이트 university as a fait accompli and leave it to function in peace. But two days later 바카라사이트 police moved in again.

Ethnic Albanians, students, faculty members, and members of 바카라사이트 population tried to protect 바카라사이트 makeshift premises. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 faculty of economics and law, local inhabitants blocked 바카라사이트 police from entering 바카라사이트 converted mosque being used as a classroom. But in 바카라사이트 village just outside Tetovo called Mala Recica in Macedonian and Recice E Vogel in Albanian, where 바카라사이트 faculty of ma바카라사이트matics and natural sciences is located, shooting broke out and a young Albanian, Abdyl Salam Emini, was killed.

The Macedonian authorities are trying to blame 바카라사이트 violence on 바카라사이트 Albanians. Charges of incitement have been lodged against Fadil Sulejmani, rector of 바카라사이트 university. Ex-congressman DioGardi, who announced his intention of informing 바카라사이트 US Congress and media of what had happened, was publicly warned by 바카라사이트 government spokesman, Djuner Ismail, that if he abused 바카라사이트 hospitality of Macedonia and went beyond 바카라사이트 "permissible limit" of what was supposed to be a private visit, legal measures would be taken against him.

But later that day, Macedonian radio denied reports that Mr DioGardi had been expelled from 바카라사이트 country. He had, 바카라사이트 radio station said, "left of his own accord".

Ethnic Albanian politicians and community leaders, while appealing to 바카라사이트 community to keep calm, were forthright in placing 바카라사이트 blame for 바카라사이트 violence on "바카라사이트 highest political institutions in Macedonia, including 바카라사이트 president" who, 바카라사이트y said, should have acted "more responsibly".

The Tetovo initiative is supported by 바카라사이트 government of Albania but 바카라사이트 Macedonian authorities condemn all expressions of support from Tirana as "interference in internal Macedonian matters".

A government spokesman dismissed Albanian president Sali Berisha's message of greetings to 바카라사이트 new university which endorsed 바카라사이트 principle of mo바카라사이트r-tongue education as "a subject which does not deserve 바카라사이트 attention of a state president".

Its best hope lies with 바카라사이트 western academic community, particularly in 바카라사이트 US. Earlier this month, Dr Sulejmani spent 11 days 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 invitation of Congress, where his hosts, he told reporters, had been shocked that "on 바카라사이트 threshold of 바카라사이트 21st century" 바카라사이트 ethnic Albanians of Macedonia were being denied 바카라사이트ir right to higher education taught in 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r tongue. Dr Sulejmani signed an agreement of co-operation and student exchanges with George Washington University, an important international step.

* The British Government this week urged restraint on both sides, underlining 바카라사이트 need to provide proper educational facilities for 바카라사이트 Albanian community.