Macedonian police began patrolling Aracinovo tonight after a controversial Western-brokered deal to evacuate armed ethnic Albanian rebels from the strategic village.
Macedonian television showed pictures of the patrol, which a diplomatic source said involved civilian police with sidearms in the company of European Union and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitors.
The source said the Macedonian police showed full cooperation during the operation and made clear they were ready to be sensitive in policing the Albanian-populated village.
The patrol marked the symbolic return of the village to Macedonian government control. It was a piece of good news for NATO. The evacuation of the armed rebels, followed by rebel attacks elsewhere, infuriated Macedonians.
Many Macedonians, misinformed by officials that the rebels had surrendered, felt NATO had taken their side by agreeing to escort them out without disarming them.
A group of angry Macedonians blocked a convoy escorted by US troops and international monitors on its way from dropping off the rebels yesterday. Others protested at parliament, where police reservists fired assault rifles in the air.
The rebels say they are fighting for more rights for Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority.
Foreign journalists have not been allowed into Aracinovo, where diplomats said several hundred rebels and 100 civilians survived three days of heavy bombardment by the Macedonian army.