Macedonians shun attempt to block Albanian autonomy

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Nationalists in Macedonia seeking to curb the rights of Albanians suffered a major blow yesterday as their controversial referendum was boycotted by a majority of voters.

The referendum aimed at curtailing ethnic Albanians' autonomy was called by Macedonia's Slavic nationalists. They oppose Western-inspired laws redrawing the map of the country and giving more power to ethnic Albanians, who make up 22 per cent of the two million population.

Turnout had to top 50 per cent for the result to stand. The Macedonian government called for voters to stay at home, which would mean that the referendum would fail.

The EU, Nato and the US also wanted the referendum to fail, fearing renewed ethnic violence in the tiny landlocked Balkan state if the nationalist parties succeeded.

Independent