Army Shells Rebel Positions in North

Macedonian army artillery targeted northern hillside rebel positions, shattering an unofficial cease-fire. But the guns fell silent after six volleys, suggesting that the government was honoring a pledge to act with restraint.

The shells were fired at the villages of Slupcane, Orizare and Vaksince in the Kumanovo region near the border with the Yugoslav region of Kosovo. Government forces have been fighting ethnic Albanian insurgents in the area since the beginning of this month.

A military spokesman, Col. Blagoja Markovski, said the attacks had stymied preparations for “offensive actions against Macedonian troops.” There were no reports of casualties.