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Troubled Macedonia goes to polls Macedonia poll marred by unrest
(about 9 hours later)
Macedonia is holding a snap general election called after Greece vetoed the ex-Yugoslav republic's attempt to join Nato because of its name. General election voting has been suspended in five areas of Macedonia amid unrest in which at least one person has been killed and more hurt.
Macedonia is also the name of a Greek region and Greeks resent a perceived attempt to claim the heritage of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. There have been several shootings, including two in Albanian stronghold Aracinovo, where one person died when police clashed with gunmen.
The country's ruling coalition is also divided over recognising Kosovo as an independent state. The poll was called after Greece vetoed the former Yugoslav republic's attempt to join Nato because of its name.
Around a quarter of the population are ethnic Albanians like most of Kosovo. Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece.
The centre-right coalition also wants to speed up reforms. Greeks say the name implies a territorial claim over its northern province and resent a perceived attempt to claim the heritage of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great.
Sunday's vote could determine whether Macedonia joins both Nato and the European Union, most of which did recognise Kosovo when it declared independence in February. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski called the election in April hoping to secure an absolute majority for his centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party.
Name issue The parliamentary election had originally been scheduled for 2010.
Outgoing Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski called the election in April hoping to secure an absolute majority for his centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party.
The next scheduled parliamentary election had not been until 2010.
His party promises not to change the name of the country under Greek pressure, to push on with reforms aimed at EU admission, to revive the economy and to tackle corruption.His party promises not to change the name of the country under Greek pressure, to push on with reforms aimed at EU admission, to revive the economy and to tackle corruption.
Kosovo question
The country's ruling coalition is also divided over recognising Kosovo as an independent state.
Around a quarter of the population is ethnic Albanian, like most of Kosovo.
The next government is likely to face strong pressure from the ethnic Albanian parties to speed up the country's recognition of Kosovo, the BBC's Helen Fawkes reports.
Sunday's vote could determine whether Macedonia joins both Nato and the European Union, most of whose members did recognise Kosovo when it declared independence in February.
Macedonia had been warned that any violence could harm its chances of integration with the West.
The election campaign had been overshadowed by violence between rival ethnic Albanian parties.
There have been shootings and grenade attacks on party offices
Recent opinion polls favoured the VMRO-DPMNE, suggesting it would take between 26% and 31% of the vote.Recent opinion polls favoured the VMRO-DPMNE, suggesting it would take between 26% and 31% of the vote.
Its nearest rival, Radmila Sekerinska's Social Democrats, was given between 10% and 11% by the same polls.Its nearest rival, Radmila Sekerinska's Social Democrats, was given between 10% and 11% by the same polls.
The election campaign has been overshadowed by violence between rival ethnic Albanian parties.
There have been shootings and grenade attacks on party offices
This former Yugoslav republic has been warned that this trouble could harm its chances of integration with the West.
The next government is likely to face strong pressure from the ethnic Albanian parties to speed up the country's recognition of Kosovo, the BBC's Helen Fawkes reports.