Macedonia

New probe: Macedonian president was not assassinated

SARAJEVO -- A series of mistakes made by the crew, adverse weather conditions and poor maintenance of the aircraft caused the crash killed Boris Trajkovski.

These findings are contained in a new report presented this week.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

Many Orthodox Christians throughout the world on Wednesday celebrated Christmas with liturgies and prayers.

The Christmas service in Moscow' Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was led by Russian Patriarch Kirill, and attended by worshipers, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev among them.

A new report into the death in 2004 of former Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, conducted by a team of regional experts and released in Sarajevo on Tuesday, once again declared that the fatal plane crash was not the result of an assassination but an accident.

Several hundred protesters in western Macedonia - outraged by an 11-day power outage in the depths of winter - blocked electricians from the power company from leaving the region until they fixed the problem.

Media reports said they threatened to destroy local facilities of the power company, EVN, after which police were dispatched to the scene.

A 36-year-old man in Macedonia, northern Greece, is facing charges for allegedly videotaping sexual encounters between him and his 33-year-old girlfriend without her consent and subsequently posting the illegal material online.

Cyber crimes officers are currently examining the suspect?s computer.

Vraniskovski, a controversial priest serving a jail term for embezzlement, may have hopes of an imminent pardon, a well informed source from the Macedonian Justice Ministry told BIRN.

"Russian Church wants to mediate in SPC-MPC dispute"

BELGRADE -- Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev has said that Moscow wants to mediate in the church dispute between Belgrade and Skopje.

This is according to the Religious Information Agency (VIA), which referred to him as "the second most senior official" of the Russian Orthodox Church.

BELGRADE - Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev, the second most senior official of the Russian Orthodox Church, has said that Moscow wants to mediate in the church dispute between Belgrade and Skopje, the Religious Information Agency (VIA) reported on Monday.

Regional forces work with US to promote peace, stability

Regional security forces co-operate with the US Marines to boost their peacekeeping capacities through joint military exercises.

US Marines attempt to break through Bulgarian and Serbian soldiers during the riot control course of Platinum Wolf 15 at the South base in Serbia. [US Marines]

EU, Balkans tackle organised crime, weapons trafficking

Balkan countries have adopted an action plan against illicit trafficking of weapons.

Balkan countries agreed to take additional measures to interdict weapons trafficking. [Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia]