NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson arrived in Skopje today to meet Macedonian leaders after Europe warned the Balkans state off declaring an official state of war.
As Lord Robertson flew in the army launched a fifth day of shelling against northern villages near Kumanovo, where ethnic Albanian guerrillas have taken control of an area they declare "liberated territory."
The NATO chief is to meet President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and political leaders of Macedonian Slav and ethnic Albanian parties.
He will also meet with EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana who was delivering a tough message against a proposed introduction of a state of war. This would give the government sweeping powers to battle the gunmen.
But the European Union said it was too "drastic" a measure and would only raise tensions.
AFP