22 injured in Macedonia ethnic clashesMarch 3, 2013 - 19:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 22 people, including 13 police officers, have been injured in protests in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, police have said, according to Belfast Telegraph. The protests, which erupted on Friday, March 1 evening and continued overnight, were started by ethnic Macedonians angry at the appointment of a new defense minister - an ethnic Albanian and former rebel commander in the 2001 conflict which pitted Macedonian's two main ethnic groups against one another. Ethnic Albanians have now staged a counter-protest in the capital. Both protests turned violent, with ethnic Macedonians and Albanians taking turns to scuffle with police but, so far, not with one another. Talat Xhaferi was named defense minister two weeks ago, sparking protests which then escalated. Police said 18 arrests have been made so far, and five of those arrested are minors. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |