Killings 'staged to win US support'
AP in Skopje
Saturday May 1, 2004
The Guardian
Macedonian police acknowledged yesterday that the killing of seven alleged Pakistani terrorists two years ago was staged to win US support and that the victims were innocent illegal immigrants.
A police spokeswoman, Mirjana Konteska, told reporters that six people, including three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman, have been charged with murder.
The action was carried out in March 2002 by special Macedonian police who claimed to have eliminated a terrorist group allegedly plotting to attack embassies in Macedonia.
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Ms Konteska said the seven were in fact illegal immigrants lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be transferred to western Europe.
She said they were transported to Rastanski Lozja, five miles north-east of Skopje, where they were gunned down.
There was no immediate comment from diplomats in Macedonia. Top western envoys had demanded an investigation into the killing.
Macedonia has been a close US ally in the Balkans and has staunchly supported the US-led war on terrorism, including sending troops to Iraq.
The former interior minister Ljube Boskovski, who was the police chief at the time, is also likely to be charged if parliament revokes his immunity from prosecution. He has denied the allegations.
