KARUNA SHINSHO, ASIA TONIGHT: A new wave of artillery fire is ripping apart efforts to create political harmony between Macedonia's majority Slavs and ethnic Albanians. Government troops have opened a new assault on ethnic Albanian rebels holed up in Macedonia's northern villages. Journalist Juliette Terzieff has this report.</s>JULIETTE TERZIEFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As promised, Macedonian security forces are continuing their offensive in an attempt to dislodge ethnic Albanian guerrillas from villages northeast of the city of Kumanovo for the seventh day running. Early Wednesday morning, government officials announced a five-hour cease-fire from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. local time, which they called the last chance for civilians trapped in the area to leave. And civilians were instructed to either head toward the city of Kumanovo or, if they preferred, north towards the border with Kosovo. However, journalists and international humanitarian organizations trying to get into the area in the morning were held back by sporadic fighting. And not many of the civilians were able to get out.</s>SHINSHO: The fighting is hampering efforts to forge a unity government that gives representation to more ethnic Albanians. A leading ethnic Albanian political party says it will not join a unity government unless the government stops its crackdown. END TO ORDER VIDEOTAPES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF CNN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE THE SECURE ONLINE ORDER FROM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
New Wave Of Fire In Macedonia