-Caveat Lector- So NATO collects these weapons and plans to leave within thirty days. What is to stop those who surrender their weapons from being slaughtered the instant NATO leaves? ~Amelia~ NATO to Collect 3,300 Rebel Weapons By Danica Kirka Associated Press Writer Sunday, August 26, 2001; 7:08 PM SKOPJE, Macedonia -- NATO revealed Sunday that it plans to collect 3,300 weapons from ethnic Albanian militants in a delicate operation it described as being Macedonia's only alternative to war. By revealing the figures, NATO sets boundaries for its mission in Macedonia. Called Operation Essential Harvest, it envisions NATO troops setting up collection sites to take weapons as rebels turn them in. NATO has said it plans to complete the process in 30 days and leave. But the number of weapons NATO decided on could become an obstacle to carrying out the plan. Macedonian government officials, who say the rebels have thousands more weapons than they have admitted to, said later Sunday that they had not agreed to accept NATO's figures. Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, a consistent opponent of the weapons collection plan, described NATO's estimates of rebel arms as "humiliating." The dispute opened the possibility that the weapons collection process won't start as planned Monday. By early Sunday evening, political leaders had failed to order their forces to pull back from areas surrounding drop-off sites - a key requirement for NATO to start weapons collections. "Our regrouping will be simultaneous with the arrival and deployment of NATO troops," said Marjan Gjurovski, the Macedonian defense spokesman. NATO's announcement came hours after a deadly explosion ripped through a motel, killing two people and further complicating the alliance's efforts to build confidence between the rebels and the government ahead of its mission. The Macedonian-owned motel was in Celopek, a village six miles south of the predominantly Albanian city of Tetovo. Georgievski called the attack "barbaric." "I have suggested that Macedonia must legitimately respond or retaliate either with a military or police action," he said. It was unclear if the government would actually act. Later Sunday, the explosion of what was apparently a bomb in a trash can in the capital, Skopje, shattered nearby store windows and damaged two cars. No injuries were reported in the blast, which police said was likely caused by industrial explosives. The explosion took place in an ethnic Albanian neighborhood, but about 50 yards from an Orthodox church. Most ethnic Albanians are Muslims; most Macedonians are Orthodox Christians. Police also reported an exchange of infantry and artillery fire in the Kumanovo area northeast of Skopje. Security forces "responded adequately," police said. The planned NATO mission is the alliance's attempt to avert more bloodshed in this ethnically torn nation. Fighting broke out along Macedonia's border with Kosovo in February after ethnic Albanians launched an insurgency claiming they were fighting for greater rights. The government says ethnic Albanians, who make about a third of the country's population of 2 million, are fighting for a state of their own. After an Aug. 13 peace deal, NATO's ruling council authorized a total about 4,700 troops to help with disarmament of the rebels. The peace deal envisions a step-by-step process in which rebels will hand over weapons to NATO in exchange for political reforms in Macedonia. Since a third of the weapons are to be handed over in exchange for moves in parliament, the figure had to be revealed in advance. "There are no guarantees and the path will not be easy and the alternative is clear," said Maj. Gen. Gunnar Lange, the military commander of Operation Essential Harvest. "The alternative is war." Despite rebel claims to have only a few thousand weapons, the Macedonian government had claimed the insurgents have 85,000. A key Macedonian official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that hard-liners in the government will continue to demand more collections in an attempt to obstruct constitutional reforms envisioned under the peace agreement. NATO, which is in Macedonia at the invitation of the government, would be unlikely to act unless all the parties are on board - even though it has repeatedly stated it has come to this troubled Balkan country not as a peacekeeper but only to collect weapons voluntarily handed over. Also Sunday, ethnic Albanian rebels released eight hostages in an apparent goodwill gesture. And despite the dispute, rebels continued preparations to hand over weapons in places like the front-line village of Nikusak. Rebel commander Adashi claimed that his 114th Brigade would be the first in the country to surrender its arms. The brigade, whose area of responsibility includes Skopje, pledged to hand over a third of its weapons as planned Monday. Included in the cache are automatic rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. © 2001 The Associated Press <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om