Hundreds of angry Macedonians today blocked entrances to the national parliament where deputies were due to begin debating reforms agreed under a Western-backed peace plan.
The protest against planned constitutional changes and other reforms giving more rights to the ethnic Albanian minority stopped traffic in the centre of the capital Skopje.
Dozens of anti-riot police gathered near the parliament, whose session had not yet begun - it was due to start at 10 a.m. Irish time.
Ethnic Albanian rebels have pledged to disarm and disband if the reforms are introduced. But many Macedonians doubt the rebels' promise and believe the peace plan has been forced upon them.
As part of the Macedonia peace deal, NATO soldiers have collected more than 1,400 weapons from the rebels so far. Alliance leaders have said the onus is now on Macedonian politicians to start honouring their side of the bargain.