ARMED GROUPS PREVENT OFFICIALS FROM ENTERING MACEDONIAN TOBACCO FIRM
Radio Macedonia - September 29, 2003

Unauthorized individuals and armed groups, including - according to employees - commanders of the disbanded ONA (National Liberation Army - UCK in Albanian) from Semsevo and Poroj, as well as people from Kosovo and the Republic of Albania, were again to be seen in the Tetovo Tabak shareholding company over the weekend (27-28 September) and since early this morning. They have been demolishing the dryers, depots, production plants and the tobacco fermentation building. At the Public Prosecutor Office's request, a team from the department of investigation at the Tetovo Court of First Instance went to the factory to conduct an on-site inspection, but was rudely prevented from doing so by armed individuals at the entrance itself. Representatives of the OSCE and the EU Concordia mission also made an unsuccessful attempt in the morning to enter the premises of the Tetovo Tabak shareholding company, where they were intercepted by armed and other unauthorized individuals.

Source: Macedonian Radio, Skopje, in Macedonian 1000 gmt 29 Sep 03

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