In its newly announced draft law the junior ruling Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, seeks legal satisfaction for victims of Communist injustice, as well as welfare payments for victims now living in poverty.

The murder of five men near Skopje earlier this month was not a mafia killing carried out in retaliation for police actions against them, a senior Macedonian police official has said.

Macedonia’s ruling parties have drawn up declaration for parliament, urging NATO to keep the door open for the country's membership.

Macedonia's Foreign Minister on Tuesday is expected to urge the UN Secretary General to take more account of the World Court ruling that deemed Greece’s blockade of Macedonia’s NATO accession illegal.

Albanian President Bamir Topi, meeting his Macedonian host, President Gjorge Ivanov, called for restraint in Macedonia after the murder of five men fuelled ethnic tensions.

The ethnic Albanian-led government in Pristina has called for tolerance, peace and restraint in tense neighbouring Macedonia.

Cyclists in Skopje are annoyed by the plan to introduce steep fines for people who ride outside designated lanes, saying cycle lanes are few in number and most blocked.